Ethical Implications of Body Transplants

In 1970, neurosurgeon Robert White attempted a body transplant on monkeys, aiming to one day perform it on humans. The experiment faced technical challenges, such as paralysis and brain oxygenation, which White addressed with a brain-cooling technique. Despite ethical concerns and opposition, White proceeded with the experiment, raising questions about the mind-body connection. Although he never achieved a human transplant, his work sparked ongoing debates in neuroscience and ethics.

What was Robert White's ultimate goal with his experiment involving monkeys?

• To improve the intelligence of monkeys

• To perform a whole-body transplant on humans

• To develop a new type of anesthesia

• To create a new species of monkeys

What was one of the major technical hurdles faced by White in his surgery?

• Developing a new type of scalpel

• Finding suitable monkey subjects

• Creating a sterile operating environment

• Reconnecting a severed spinal cord

How did White propose to overcome the challenge of brain oxygenation during surgery?

• By using a special type of blood transfusion

• By increasing the room temperature

• By cooling the brain to slow its metabolism

• By using a new type of oxygen mask

What did White's brain cooling technique achieve in neurosurgery?

• It allowed surgeries to be performed underwater

• It extended the time available for brain surgeries

• It eliminated the need for anesthesia

• It made surgeries more expensive

What was a significant ethical concern regarding White's experiment?

• The cost of the surgery

• The potential for neurological damage and pain

• The lack of media coverage

• The use of outdated surgical tools

Which organization continued to approve White's research despite ethical concerns?

• The National Institutes of Health

• The World Health Organization

• The American Red Cross

• NASA

What was the outcome for the monkey after the body transplant procedure?

• It gained superhuman strength

• It was alive but paralyzed and distressed

• It developed new cognitive abilities

• It became immune to diseases

What philosophical question does the surgery raise?

• The future of artificial intelligence

• The importance of animal rights

• The mind-body divide and the nature of self

• The role of technology in society

What does modern neuroscience suggest about the brain's role?

• It is solely responsible for emotions

• It is irrelevant to consciousness

• It plays a central role in building consciousness

• It is less important than the heart

What is a potential future implication of White's experiment?

• The creation of a new species

• The possibility of human head transplants

• The end of all diseases

• The development of telepathy