Informed consent for facial transplantation

Now that partial face transplantation has been performed, attention is focused on likely functional, aesthetic and immunological outcomes, and full facial transplantation is the likely next step. Facial transplantation has been the source of ethical debate, a key part of which focuses on valid informed consent. We review the process of informed consent in health settings, assessing how applicable the current standards are for facial transplantation. The factors which need to be assessed during the screening programme are outlined. We conclude that both individual and process factors are important in obtaining consent for radical new procedures, and outline our own gold standard for ensuring informed consent in facial transplantation.