Pig heart transplant. would you take one?

[reesewithoutaspoon]

So in the news, American doctors have transplanted a genetically modified pigs heart into a man who is alive 3 days later.
Should we be messing with cross species transplantation? what about the potential for pig viruses to mutate into something that becomes transmissible human to human. Not sure if that's even a possibility, but you would have to be heavily immune supressed surely to tolerate a non human organ.
Sometimes I think just because we can doesn't mean we should. but I'm not in this guys situation and don't know what I would choose if I was.
Something about it just gives me the heebie jeebies,

Ooh before I answer your questions OP, I'm off to jump down a rabbit hole

I've watched many episodes of Greys Anatomy where this has been done successfully, so I'd class myself as a pretty authoritative source on the matter, and I'd say yes it definitely works and it's a great idea.

Yes, would try anything to be threrr for my dd

I suppose it depend what the option is. I think if I had got to a point where I needed a transplant, I would grab the opportunity.

Anyone else remember Pig Heart Boy on children’s tv?

Have they done a full heart transplant on GA?
I know specially bred pig valves are often used, but before now not a full heart.
It could be amazing for those longterm on transplant lists or not meeting the criteria. I hope it works well for this man.

Yes, would try anything to be threrr for my dd

This^^

I think the risk of disease transmission from large scale intensive farming is far larger than from small numbers of pigs kept for this purpose.

If it was myself or a loved one who needed the transplant, I don't think I'd give a damn about the heebie jeebies.

We already regularly do heart valve transplants from pig hearts. This is the next step. I'm all for it.
As an aside, I hope they used the rest of the pig for meat as well...but I doubt it.

I feel bad for the pig.

pig and cow valves have been used for years, but you dont need to take anti rejection drugs from them, due to the type of tissue and treatment they receive. A whole heart though is a bit different. It doesnt help that at the end of every news report they say "theres some concerns about potential pig viruses transmitting to humans" ( I assume because their immune supressed ) and I cant help thinking are we opening a can of worms here.

@Wishitsnows

Yes, would try anything to be threrr for my dd

This.

My dc is school age. If that was my only alternative to be able to protect my dc to adulthood, or even a few months older, yes, I'd do it.

Yes, I would. In a heartbeat.

(Sorry )

If the alternative was dying then yes I probably would. I think in reality if they knew they would die most people would try it. Almost everyone is afraid to die.

And I probably wouldn’t feel that bad for the pig. I’m a non leather wearing vegetarian but if it was my life or a pig’s life I’d choose mine.

I think most people would and given the amount of meat eaters I can’t imagine many people would be fretting over accepting life saving treatment because a pig had died.

If it was that or death, of course. You would too!

Well I'd rather not die, so yeah, I'd take it.

I wouldn't be too concerned about pig viruses, mass farming with over use of antibiotics is worse.

Not for me as my children are all independent adults but I’m not sure even when they were small I would have opted for this.

I would also be worried about the long term problems of having a pigs heart.

Would I become boaring, want to hog everything or become a real swine?

Yes, if I needed it.

Although I don't and won't eat pork unless my life depended on it. I wonder if you had it, would you still feel you could eat pork after or is it a sort of weird cannibalism.

I would if that was my chance at living longer.

I'm old enough to remember the world's first human heart transplant - It was an incredible breakthrough in medicine. But huge numbers of people predicted terrible things happening as a result of this , they saw it as tampering with the natural order of things, flying in the face of God etc. Now it is seen as perfectly normal and that's as it should be.

It's only natural to wonder where this may take us, but in the meantime I'm really happy for this man who was on the brink of death and now has a second chance. If I was in that position I'd accept any heart that was available.

@WheelieBinPrincess

Anyone else remember Pig Heart Boy on children’s tv?

This is all I have thought about all day while hearing it being spoke about on the news

Given that the other option is death, yeah I would! At my current age any way. I have a 5 year old DS - I’d do anything I could to stick around for him!

@WheelieBinPrincess yes! First thing I thought of but couldn't remember the title.

I'd do anything to stay alive tbh

Possibly, yes. If it was a choice between dying or having the pig heart, then of course I would take the pig heart.

Organ donations are in short supply. Plenty of people die waiting their turn.