[Avodah] announcing plan for first head transplant in man

[noam stadlan]

I actually discussed this in an article in 2010 available here:
http://www.yctorah.org/content/view/662/10
For those who are interested, the references contain the cites for the
following info:

1. Dr. Robert White performed head transplants in monkeys in the 1970's.
2. Rabbi Azriel Rosenfeld discussed the halachic implications of potential
head transplants in the 60's and 70's

I would note that the ability to perform these transplants is further
evidence that defining life by neurological function makes the most
practical and halachic sense.  Those who define life as 'vital motion' have
no way of dealing with these issues(aside from the obvious but poorly noted
problem that while they claim that it is no synonomous with circulation,
they have never actually identified exactly what 'vital motion' is or how
to measure or define it independent of the presence of circulation.
similarly they have never defined exactly what tissue has to be involved in
the 'vital motion' in order to qualify as a human being).

one halachic issue that does require discussion is the Mishna in Ohalot
which defines a decapitated animal as dead even if the body is still
moving(pirkus).  The rational approach is that the mishna had in mind the
technology of the day, which assumes that a head without a body would cease
to function very quickly(unconsciousness within 10 sec).  this case does
not refer to the situation where the head(and brain) are supported.

For those who are interested, Rabbi Bleich does claim(interview in Jewish
Review I think) that if the head of Reuven was transferred to the body of
Shimon, the result would be identified as Shimon, but there would be some
sort of dibbuk like part attached to him.  However, he clearly holds that
the result would NOT be Reuven.

Noam Stadlan
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