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Xenotransplantation Clinical Trials and Equitable Patient Selection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 October 2023

Christopher Bobier Open the ORCID record for Christopher Bobier [Opens in a new window]  and
Daniel Rodger Open the ORCID record for Daniel Rodger [Opens in a new window]
Christopher Bobier*
Affiliation:
Department of Theology and Philosophy, Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership, St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, Winona, MN, USA
Daniel Rodger
Affiliation:
Operating Department Practice, Institute of Health and Social Care, School of Allied and Community Health, London South Bank University, London, UK Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
*
Corresponding author: Christopher Bobier; Email: cbobier@smumn.edu
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Abstract

Xenotransplant patient selection recommendations restrict clinical trial participation to seriously ill patients for whom alternative therapies are unavailable or who will likely die while waiting for an allotransplant. Despite a scholarly consensus that this is advisable, we propose to examine this restriction. We offer three lines of criticism: (1) The risk–benefit calculation may well be unfavorable for seriously ill patients and society; (2) the guidelines conflict with criteria for equitable patient selection; and (3) the selection of seriously ill patients may compromise informed consent. We conclude by highlighting how the current guidance reveals a tension between the societal values of justice and beneficence.

Keywords

allotransplantationclinical trialconsentethicsequityfairnessjusticeresearch subjectsxenotransplantation
Type
Research Article
Information
Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics , First View , pp. 1 - 10
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press

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References

Notes

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