Defending the Ethical Permissibility of Laryngeal Transplantation

Transplantation of the larynx is a rare and controversial procedure. Unlike solid organ transplantation, in which the primary goal is preservation of life, laryngeal transplantation aims to improve a patient's quality-of-life by restoring function. Several successful laryngeal transplants have been reported in the scientific literature: restoring patient speech, improving swallowing and breathing, and providing substantial quality-of-life improvements. Nonetheless, laryngeal transplantation poses both scientific and ethical challenges. The novelty of the procedure, uncertainty about appropriate clinical indications, need for highly nuanced clinical evaluation and patient selection, and paucity of alternative treatment options add to the moral complexity of offering LT. In this paper, we argue that laryngeal transplantation is ethically supportable in a limited set of circumstances, specifically in situations where patients are struggling with severe compromises to their quality of life or experiencing functional impairments that threaten their sense of self.