Introduction: Recent contributions to the specialised literature address the topic of body transplantation, mostly produced by Sergio Canavero and a group of researchers from China. For several years they have been announcing that they will carry out the procedure, but it has still not been performed.
Aims: The aim of this study is to perform a neuroethical analysis of body transplantation, based on the methodology of Diego Gracia on ethics and bioethics and an analysis of facts, values and duties. Furthermore, we also propose that, with the knowledge available today, body transplantation must be addressed from the perspective of research ethics.
Development: As regards the facts, it can be said that, although the history of attempts to perform a body transplant dates back almost a century, there are many limitations preventing it from being performed with our current knowledge. This is due to the fact that no serious and rigorous preclinical research has been conducted (at most some anecdotal data can be found). With the data that is available, it does not even seem possible to think of designing a protocol to include human beings for body transplantation. In terms of values, according to the model developed by Emanuel, who proposes eight requirements that must be met to comply with the ethics of clinical research, it is not even possible to comply with one of them. Regarding duties, it would be wise to recommend that such a procedure should not be carried out on humans.
Conclusions: Considering the scientific knowledge currently available and the values of research ethics, a body transplantation should not be performed in human beings either as clinical research or as clinical practice.
Title: Neuroetica del trasplante de cuerpo.
Introduccion. Existe bibliografia reciente en revistas especializadas acerca del trasplante de cuerpo, generada fundamentalmente por Sergio Canavero y un grupo chino. Desde hace un par de años vienen anunciando que realizaran el procedimiento, pero aun no ha ocurrido. Objetivo. Realizar un analisis neuroetico sobre el trasplante de cuerpo, proponiendo la metodologia de Diego Gracia en etica y bioetica analizando hechos, valores y deberes. Se propone ademas que, con el conocimiento actual, el trasplante de cuerpo debe tratarse desde la etica de la investigacion. Desarrollo. Aunque desde hace casi un siglo hay antecedentes de intentar conseguir un trasplante de cuerpo, existen numerosas limitaciones para poder realizarlo con el conocimiento actual porque no hay investigacion preclinica seria y rigurosa (se encuentran a lo sumo datos anecdoticos). Con los datos disponibles, ni siquiera parece que pueda pensarse en el diseño de un protocolo de inclusion de seres humanos para el trasplante de cuerpo. En cuanto a valores, atendiendo al modelo de Emanuel, quien propone ocho requisitos para cumplir con la etica de la investigacion clinica, no es posible siquiera cumplir uno cabalmente. Lo mas prudente es recomendar que no debe realizarse un procedimiento asi en seres humanos. Conclusiones. Considerando el conocimiento cientifico disponible y los valores de la etica de la investigacion, no debe realizarse un trasplante de cuerpo en seres humanos, ni como investigacion clinica ni mucho menos como practica clinica.