title: Ethical, financial, and policy considerations in hand transplantation.
abstract: Currently, more than 65 hand transplants have been performed with studies demonstrating favorable cosmetic and functional outcomes and cortical reintegration of the transplanted hand. Due to such favorable outcomes, many view hand transplant as a potential gold standard for treatment of a double amputee. However, ethical debate continues regarding risks and benefits of this nonlifesaving procedure. Clinicians, patients, and society must agree on whether hand transplantation is ethical and affordable. If a decision is made to transplant a hand, this must be performed in a dedicated center that facilitates integration of multiple specialists, ethicists, pharmacists, and rehabilitationists.
authors: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Jeff
authors: J
authors: Chang
authors: David W
authors: DW
authors: Mathes
mesh_terms: D026686:Beneficence; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D063987:Hand Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics; D026706:Paternalism; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment