[Pigs, do they have their heart in their hand? Anthropological reflections on xenografts]

The therapeutic perspectives initiated by xenotransplantations are of interest since they allow a great deal of hope for all patients whose transplant delays decrease in proportion to their prognosis for survival. However, this type of therapy, while resolving the qualitative problem of transplants, could possibly lead to other dilemmas, especially the sociocultural aspects. Besides the potential risk of transmission of a pathogenic agent to the human species, xenotransplants, while creating a symbolic and actual proximity between man and animal, could abolish the ritualized and ancient distance established between the protagonists. It could be pigs or any other type of animal; the central question is one of the relationship between human and animal species. Animal husbandry and slaughtering for food are submitted to very precise cultural codes. But it would be very hasty to think that the use of an animal for therapeutic transplants would be free of all cultural connotations.