[Xenotransplantation and animal welfare]

The problems of feasibility and public acceptance of using animals as foreign donors for organ transplants (xenotransplantation) are discussed from an animal protection point of view. It is proposed that a transparent information and a transdisciplinary composition of the members of decisive bodies is ensured to incorporate the current distrust towards xenotransplantation of a large part of the population. This strategy could lead to a consensus for or against such animal use of the whole society before it is technically possible and therefore irrevocable facts are created.