First U.S. Face Transplant

Earlier on this blog, I reported on an unusual anatomical gift, a face.  Up to now, face transplants have only been done in France (2) and China (1).  Now, the first face transplant in the United States has taken place.

Here are some details from Marilynn Marchione, Nation’s first face transplant done in Cleveland, YahooNews!, Dec. 16, 2008:

• 80% of a woman’s face was replaced with that of a deceased female donor.
• The donee’s name and age were not released for privacy reasons.
• The ethics of the surgery is being debated because the transplant is to enhance the quality of life, not to extend it.
• If the surgery does not go well, at least one bioethicist thinks the patient should be given the option of assisted suicide.

Special thanks to David S. Luber (Attorney at law, Florida Probate Attorney Wills and Estates Law Firm) for bringing this article to my attention.