Dr. Sergio Canavero's Popular opinion about the potential head transplant has been received with general negativity, despite @Canavero's original claims. Canavero was criticized specifically on ethical grounds, with Arthur Kaplan, head of medical ethics at Langone Medical Center, New York University, calling Canavero "out of his mind". There are also doubts as regards the state of technology and the time-frame in which Canavero says he will be able to successfully conduct the procedure.
Operation on terminally ill patient.
It will be performed on a terminally ill patient known as Valery spiridonov, 31, who suffers from a rare form of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA ) is a disease that robs people of physical strength by affecting the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord, taking away the ability to walk, eat, or breathe. It is the number one genetic cause of death for infants. SMA is caused by a mutation in the survival motor neuron gene 1 (SMN1).
Could this be the Breakthrough needed to help millions suffering from other genetic diseases?
Mr. Spiridonov has agreed to allow Dr. Sergio Canavero, Chinese surgeon Dr. Xiaoping Ren and a team of about 150 doctors, nurses, and medical professionals to perform the operation. Dr. Ren has reportedly performed the surgery successfully on a mouse and a monkey, so success here would be a first for the human race.
Many criticized Ren, stating that the surgery would be impossible. However, Dr. Ren remains hopeful that the surgery will be a success and is continuing to acquire resources needed to have the surgery be performed.
The operation will involve cooling Mr. Spiridonov's head to about -15C (about 5F) and reconnecting it to the body of a brain-dead donor.
Tubes will then be inserted to connect the blood vessels from the recipient's head, to the donor's body. Spinal cord nerves will then be fused together using a compound called Polyethylene Glycol. The surgery is expected to cost $11 million USD and last approximately 36 hours. If successful this could open the door for a whole new list of treatments.
