Cat Organ Transplants

sophie baines writes "Vets have given their approval for cats to have kidney transplants in the UK-despite ethical concerns about the procedure. Liverpool University is believed to be one of the few veterinary teaching centres around the country to have the advanced specialist equipment needed to carry out the operation."

Comments

Activism for the sake of activism?

[CTD]

I don't get it...

"Britain's main animal charities, including the RSPCA, had expressed ethical concerns about the procedure, particularly over the issue of choice and consent."

It's a cat! I've got two cats. While I will certainly agree that they have a mind of their own (and for some reason think that the best place to be is underfoot while I'm walking in the morning), but consent??? It's a cat...


"Mr. Whiskers, this is a risky operation with potential complications. It is entirely possible that you could die due to this surgery. I still advise you to have it done, as your organs are failing and you won't live much longer without a transplant. We have a ready donor, do you give your consent for this transplant to be done?"

"Meow."

Boggling what people will do to have a cause.

Re:Activism for the sake of activism?

[unapersson]

"It's a cat! I've got two cats. While I will certainly agree that they have a mind of their own (and for some reason think that the best place to be is underfoot while I'm walking in the morning), but consent??? It's a cat..."

So do I. But I think it's more of an issue for the donor animal. It may be OK for us to decide that kitty1 should recieve a donor kidney otherwise it won't survive, but is it OK to force a healthy kitty2 to donate said kidney? Then it's more of an ethical dilema, i.e. people getting animals from rescue shelters for donor body parts.

What about my dog?

[zudo]

That's discrimination that is

Choice and consent

[ptaff]

>>particularly over the issue of choice and consent

We decide for them where they go, what they eat, when to bath, push them away when we want.

We let them locked inside when there's nobody home, we decide when and why they lose their reproductive abilities. If they need medication, we push it inside their throats.

Yeah, like people care for choice and consent from cats.

What kind of freedom is that?!

Actually...

[breon.halling]

... my sister is a vet who was working at the University of Florida, Gainseville teaching centre. She's performed the procedure several times. Successfully, too!