The ethics of xenotransplantation

Xenotransplantation--moving organs or cells from one species to another--is currently being actively researched as a possible contribution to the problem of a global shortage of human organs for transplants. Should xenotransplantation be encouraged, permitted, frowned upon or forbidden? I attempt to outline the main areas of debate that would need to be addressed before this question could confidently be answered. At present, though, we are some way from answering it. This is partly because of the lack of agreement among bioethicists about almost anything and partly because xenotransplantation raises a particularly wide range of ethical issues.