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ESEC Responds to The Charlotte Observer

August 11, 2001

The Charlotte Observer

Dear Editor,

Pandora's box is about to be opened with scientists genetically modifying pigs to be organ donors for humans. Daniel Q. Haney’s article, "Perfecting organs of pigs for people" (8-9-01) missed the magnitude of harm that xenotransplantation--transplanting parts of one species into another--potentially bodes for humankind.

There are numerous examples of tragedies caused by animal disease spreading to humans. For example, only three years ago an outbreak of the Nipah virus in pigs killed a third of the people it infected in Malaysia.

Xenotransplant scientists claim "medical necessity" due to the shortage of human organs available for transplants. But do not overlook the fact that xenotransplantation is expected to be at least a $6 billion market. The severe organ donation shortage in the U.S. is not due to a lack of organs, and could be alleviated by building awareness of non-harmful ways to increase the number of organs available for transplants.

If the U.S. adopted laws similar to those of Austria, Spain, Belgium, and Singapore there would certainly be an increase in the availability of human organs. In these nations, organ donation rates soared after "presumed consent" laws passed, whereby citizens donate their organs after death unless they specifically opt out.

Xenotransplant experiments are both privately funded and funded by taxpayer dollars. The U.S. is spending millions of dollars into developing risky, unsuccessful, and unnecessary xenotransplant procedures. Meanwhile, roughly 43 million Americans are without health insurance coverage. Spending taxpayers' money to help develop the unpromising and even dangerous option of xenotransplantation when there are better and safer options is poor government spending--and a risk to humans everywhere.

Sincerely,

Ann Stauble
Director of Research and Investigations

For further information, contact Melinda Everett, APR, Director of Media and Public Relations: 617-523-6020 x17 or meverett@ma.neavs.com.

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