The Ethical Considerations of Transplanting a Face

The face transplant is a relatively new, experimental procedure still in its early stages. This operation is comparable to a hand transplant, in that the patient’s quality of life may be improved with the procedure, but the condition is not immediately life-threatening. How can physicians discuss the risk-benefit ratio of this procedure with potential face transplant patients? What happens if the procedure fails? How does a multidisciplinary team prepare a patient considering this procedure, from the psychological to the financial aspects? Tune in to hear Dr. Stuart Finder, director of the center for healthcare ethics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, discuss these and other ethical considerations of the face transplant procedure with host Dr. Maurice Pickard.