Everyone has their own way of differentiating right from wrong. Likewise different people have different views when it comes to the issues of facial transplants. Some people may view it as stealing ones identity. It could bring some issues of privacy and it also may lead to problems like the person may have trouble figuring out who they really are. These are just a few concerns which may surround the issue of facial transplants
One of the issues which may come out of facial transplant is that some people may feel that it is wrong to take someone else’s identity. Since most times people are identified by their faces the donor’s family may not find it as a great idea which may cause some disputes (Caplan). People may believe that the person who had gotten this face transplant is actually the person who donated their face. People may want to believe that the person who had this transplant done is actually the original person which may lead to some mental pressure on the person with the transplant done. This also could result in many different people approaching this person. This is just one of the issues which may come out of a facial transplant.
Another issue which maybe a concern about a facial transplant being done is the privacy concern which may come out of it. Some people believe that the face of the person getting the donor’s face should be confidential while others do not believe so. If it is publicized as to whom the donors face is going to it could cause some disruption in the donor’s family. If the donor family finds out who is getting the donors face they may not accept it and may cause some disputes in the process (Siemionow). It is may also lead to some unwanted media publications which may cross the lines of privacy for some people.
Another issue which might come out from this might be that the person that got this transplant done may have an identity crisis. It may make the person feel the that they are not the same person as anymore. The facial transplant may make them feel like a totally new person. People may act differently around them which may also result in some psychological damage. There could be some confusion as to who they really are. This could most likely damage the person psychologically.
In conclusion facial transplants have many ethical issues. There may be good things which come out of it if successful but there are more problems which come out of it, making it an unethical procedure. Problems like, there being views that it takes another’s identity, privacy issues and the identity crisis which could possibly come out of it. Problems like these could really hurt the person who has gotten the facial transplant done.
Bibliography
Arthur Caplan. “Is Face Transplant worth risking patient’s life?” msnbc.com. 10 Feb.2012
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28279182/ns/health-health_care/t/face-transplant-worth-risking-patients-life/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28279182/ns/health-health_care/t/face-transplant-worth-risking-patients-life/
Maria Siemionow. “Ethical Issues in Face Transplantation” Organ Transplantation. 10 Feb.2012.
http://journals.lww.com/co-transplantation/Abstract/2007/04000/Ethical_issues_in_face_transplantation.16.aspx
http://journals.lww.com/co-transplantation/Abstract/2007/04000/Ethical_issues_in_face_transplantation.16.aspx
