A Plan to Save a Man's Life by Head Transplant

What a fascinating story. I hope they go ahead with it (since all parties are consenting) because it'll be very interesting to read about how the procedure turns out. But I'd put money on "not well" so maybe my curiosity is cruel.

I had a similar thought.

It's genuinely impressive that there is any chance of success whatsoever, but based on my limited understanding of transplant success (and more horrifyingly, organ rejection) rates and the huge complexity involved, it has a certain grim inevitability about it.

Obviously I hope with all my heart it works out - i don't doubt everybody is acutely aware of the risks, and I guess given the situation it's worth a punt, but it feels awfully like a moonshot.

Just a warning, parts of that page may be disturbing and or distressing to some. The references to animal testing are particularly gruesome (to me anyway).

The term "head transplant" bothers me. Surely "you" are in the head, so what you're transplanting is the body, right? Or is what is transplanted always the smaller thing of the two?

I dunno, don't we keep learning that gut flora has a big impact on all kinds of things?

The article goes into this, actually.