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Doctor Ready to Perform First Human Head Transplant (newsweek.com)

Posted by msmash on from the advancements-in-Science,-creepy-Science dept.

Ross Kenneth Urken, reporting for Newsweek (edited and condensed): Italian neurosurgeon Sergio Canavero had his Dr. Strange moment when he announced he'd be able to do a human head transplant in a two-part procedure he dubs HEAVEN (paywalled, this alternate link could help) (head anastomosis venture) and Gemini (the subsequent spinal cord fusion). [...] Canavero has a plan: It's a 36-hour, $20 million procedure involving at least 150 people, including doctors, nurses, technicians, psychologists and virtual reality engineers. In a specially equipped hospital suite, two surgical teams will work simultaneously -- one focused on Valery Spiridonov (patient) and the other on the donor's body, selected from a brain-dead patient and matched with the Spiridonov for height, build and immunotype. Both patients -- anesthetized and outfitted with breathing tubes -- will have their heads locked using metal pins and clamps, and electrodes will be attached to their bodies to monitor brain and heart activity. Next, Spiridonov's head will be nearly frozen, ultimately reaching 12 to 15 degrees Celsius, which will make him temporarily brain-dead.Shouldn't it be called a body transplant? Since a person is often defined by the brain. You can read the complete procedure here.

9 of 256 comments (clear)

  1. Yep, it's a body transplant by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 5, Funny

    But at $20 million dollars, it's definitely something you don't want to lose your head over. Too damn expensive!

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    1. Re:Yep, it's a body transplant by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yeah. "you" are the head. It makes zero sense to talk about transplanting a head.

      Unless you're talking about a penis transplant (an addadicktomy), in which case it makes perfect sense :-)

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    2. Re:Yep, it's a body transplant by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 5, Funny

      "And then we have stupidity like this bogus story [now8news.com]"

      I hope that when this guy starts dating agin, he understands that neigh means neigh.

    3. Re:Yep, it's a body transplant by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 5, Funny

      If you upgrade the CPU is it still the same computer?

      Not according to Microsoft.

    4. Re:Yep, it's a body transplant by OakDragon · · Score: 5, Funny

      They were going to do a body transplant, but turned out the head is easier to pick up and move around.

      --
      Dark Reflection
    5. Re:Yep, it's a body transplant by marciot · · Score: 5, Funny

      It costs an arm and a leg to get a head in this world.

  2. FINALLY by argStyopa · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...I'll be able to use the Head of Vecna!
    It has been a long, oft-tragic story.

    http://www.blindpanic.com/humo...

    --
    -Styopa
  3. Re:Body Transplant! by sinij · · Score: 3, Funny

    Nobody wants a head transplant.

    What a brain-dead idea to agree to a head transplant.

  4. Re:Why not go dual core? by kimvette · · Score: 5, Funny

    Zaphod Beeblebrox, is that you?

    --
    The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50