Public perceptions of clinical xenotransplantation

If clinical trials demonstrate that xenotransplantation is safe and effective in humans, it is likely to be integrated into clinical practice. However—unlike a new drug entering the market—xenotransplantation is unique in that the technology involves several areas of ongoing ethical debate. These include the use of sentient animals for research and organs; genetic engineering of source animals; and the potential for xenozoonotic disease transmission. These concerns have led to decades of academic discourse that will likely continue to inform and influence the public's perception of xenotransplantation. This chapter, therefore, (i) explains why understanding public attitudes toward novel biotechnologies such as xenotransplantation is essential, (ii) reviews what is currently known about public views on xenotransplantation, and (iii) identifies the key gaps that remain in our knowledge and why addressing them matters.