
First human head transplant to be performed by doctor critics call 'nuts'
FREE Catholic Classes
Suffering from the rare genetic Werdnig-Hoffman muscle wasting disease, diagnosed when he was one, Valery Spiridonov says that he is ready to undergo the first human head transplant.

Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
4/9/2015 (7 years ago)
Published in Health
Keywords: Head Transplant, First Human Head Transplant, Wasting Muscle Disease, Science, Fantasy, Medical, Spiridonov, Dr. Canavero
span style="line-height: 15.8599996566772px;">MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - The 30-year-old Russian computer scientist says his decision to put his trust to the controversial Italian doctor, Dr. Sergio Canavero is final and he hopes the procedure will happen by next year. However, critics describe the head anastomosis venture (HEAVEN) procedure as "pure fantasy" and the doctor was even compared to the fictional character Dr. Frankenstein.
Spiridonov told the Daily Mail that although he is scared, he also wants the chance of having a normal healthy body as his head is going to be transplanted to a healthy brain dead donor.
He explained that he did not offer himself as a guinea pig, but as a fully aware participant that could help lead science into its next level.
"In the end it is like with astronauts. Before the first man we sent into space, 300 different scenarios of something going wrong were thought through but when he actually did it, it was the 301st scenario that happened," he said.
According to Spiridonov, his family supports his decision and do not think he is doing this because of his lack of social life, as some people have speculated.
Dr. Canavero and Spiridonov have yet to meet each other in person but have conversed with each other through emails and Skype.
Keep a rosary always within your reach. Find the perfect rosaries for home, work and parish.
Although Spiridonov is optimistic, several critics express negative reactions towards the whole thing. Critics believe Dr. Canavero has simplified the dangers on the reattachment of the spinal cord. He is described as "nuts" by the director of medical ethics at the NYU's Langone Medical Centre Arthur Caplan.
HEAVEN is still lacking the necessary funds but Dr. Canavero is confident on the project's success.
---
'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
-
Saint of the Day for Tuesday, Aug 16th, 2022
-
Mysteries of the Rosary
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
-
St. Stephen the Great
-
Prayer of the Day for Tuesday, Aug 16
-
The Holy Rosary
-
Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony
-
Bible
-
Prayers
-
The Apostles' Creed
Daily Catholic
Daily Readings for Tuesday, August 16, 2022
St. Stephen the Great: Saint of the Day for Tuesday, August 16, 2022
Glory to God: Prayer of the Day for Tuesday, August 16, 2022
- Daily Readings for Monday, August 15, 2022
- St. Alipius: Saint of the Day for Monday, August 15, 2022
- Prayer to Our Lady, Assumed into Heaven: Prayer of the Day for Monday, August 15, 2022
To all our readers,
Please don't scroll past this. We interrupt your reading to humbly ask you to defend Catholic Online School's independence. 98% of our readers don't give; they look the other way. If you are an exceptional reader who has already donated, we sincerely thank you. If you donate just $10.00, or whatever you can, Catholic Online School could keep thriving for years. Most people donate because Catholic Online School is useful. If Catholic Online School has given you $10.00 worth of knowledge this year, take a minute to donate. Show the world that access to Catholic education matters to you. Thank you.Help Now >
Copyright 2021 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2021 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.