I found this tid bit of information while searching through my usual array of cardio and cancer research articles. And while it is a bit off the usual subjects we cover, I think this article offers  amazing points to ponder. On sunday a French woman received, from a brain dead donor, the first ever full facial transplant of nose, lips and chin. This procedure has been in consideration for quite some time as some doctors await just the right candidate. The French woman had been mauled by a dog last May and was unable to speak very well due to her deformities.  While this surgery is a breakthrough for the transplant industry, it raises some serious doubts and questions from some in the medical community. One such example is Arthur Caplan, the director of the University of Pennsylvania Center for Bioethics. "If it fails, it will be a death sentence. It’s not just the face that’s going to hurt. Rejection means it’s going to be painful all over your body. Failure is much more likely than success.”

Dr. Caplan brings up the point of organ rejection as a concern. With most organ transplants there is a chance for a rejection, but with a facial transplant that risk increases considerably due to swelling and hair growth. Another source of contention is the ethical side of this procedure. While the French woman had a horrible and disfiguring injury, there are some doctors who worry that patients would use this as a vanity crutch, seeking the facial organs of only the very beautiful people. Whether in support or not, this is a fascinating new frontier for the medical industry.