Ethical and Legal Issues in Technology: Xenotransplantation

Abstract

The development and application of technologies will arguably be the major driving force for the evolution of world society in the first part of our new century. In medicine, agriculture, material science, communications and a host of other areas, new technologies promise unimaginable changes in our lives. And yet, in the midst of the euphoria surrounding this rush of invention, there is concern. When asked, people often say they are scared of what they do not know and scared of today's pace and power of invention. Putting aside the voice of the modern Luddite, it appears that while few want to stop the rush toward more and better technology, there is apprehension about the potential risks of the new technologies—risks that have not been sufficiently considered.