The proposal will be discussed at the June conference of the American Academy of Neurological and Orthopedic Surgeons.
In 2013, Italian surgeon Sergio Canavero shocked many when he made the bold assertion that a human head transplant was possible.
New Scientist writes the procedure could “extend the lives of people whose muscles and nerves have degenerated or whose organs are riddled with cancer.”
However, don’t schedule your appointment just yet.
The list of potential problems is daunting, including skepticism from the medical community.
“There is no evidence that the connectivity of cord and brain would lead to useful sentient or motor function," one surgeon noted.
Canavero detailed how he would perform the procedure in the medical journal, "Surgical Neurology International." The plans include cooling the head of the brain-dead donor. In describing the transplant process, Canavero states that he would “dissect neck tissue and reattach major blood vessels before severing the spinal cords.” The procedure would be done with a "specially fashioned diamond microtomic snare-blade" or a "nanoknife with a nanometer sharp cutting edge."
The surgeon hopes to bind the spinal cord with polyethylene glycol. Canavero knows many people are opposed to the plan and promises, "If society doesn't want it, I won't do it."
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