Alix Fano, Murry J. Cohen, Marjorie Cramer, Ray Greek, and Stephen R. Kaufman

About the author: Alix Fano, Murry J. Cohen, Marjorie Cramer, Ray Greek, and Stephen R. Kaufman are members of the Medical Research Modernization Committee (MRMC), a national health advocacy group composed of physicians, scientists, and other health care professionals who evaluate the benefits, risks, and costs of medical research methods and technologies.

Since the early twentieth century, scientists have been attempting to use animal organs to replace damaged or failed human organs. Such xenotransplantation (transplants that occur between different species) is expensive and the results are unpredictable and potentially deadly. The possibility of dangerous animal viruses being transferred to humans is great, and the track record for successful transplants is poor. Doctors should concentrate on proven alternatives, such as stressing preventative medicine, to improve human health.

The...