A U.S. startup, BrainBridge, has shocked the entire world. They announced that they are developing the world’s first head transplant system using an AI robot. They describe the head transplant system with the words, “safer, faster, reliable,” and show their confidence in the system. Even though the medical technique has been developed, side effects of the transplant surgery still exist and there are criticisms of it. In this Opinion section, Pharos wants to look more deeply into the head transplant system, and at the same time, listen to the voices of people who are working in the medical world.

 According to BrainBridge, a person who gets a healthy new body from a donor can get a whole new functional body and the memories of the transplant recipient can also be preserved. BrainBridge announced that they are going to try the world’s first head transplant system within 8 years. If this new AI surgery is successful, it can be a new revolution in our human world. Nonetheless, a lot of people are skeptical because brain structure isn’t a simple thing. If even a small nerve is accidentally touched due to an error in the artificial intelligence system during the transplant surgery, there is a very high risk that the patient will die immediately. Therefore, many brain scientists criticized this as a bad joke that simplifies brain structure, an extreme fantasy, and fiction. As technology continues to advance beyond humanity's physical limitations, ethical issues are also being raised. There is a contradiction in transplant surgery because through surgery, one person dies, but through that death, someone else lives a new life. The same goes for head transplant surgery. In response to this, there are concerns that cutting off the head and transplanting it into another person's body may be an excessive violation of human dignity and ethics. 

 However, any technological development is a double- edged sword, so Pharos wanted to hear the voices of medical professionals to find out what they think about this new technology. 

[Interview]

✔Question 1

-Pharos: BrainBridge, a U.S. startup, announced that they would perform a head transplant surgery within 8 years. What do you think about the possibility of a surgery to transplant a recipient's head into a donor's body?

✔Answers

-Samsung Medical Center physical therapist: This new system can be possible in the far future, but I don’t think they can do a head transplant surgery within 8years. The human body is comprised of multiple tissues such as nerves, blood vessels, and muscles, which work together in complex ways. It is not possible to simply transplant them. After transplantation, functional movement of the head and normal brain activity should be possible, but these are not thought to be possible within eight years. 

-Orthopedic surgeon: I think the head transplant system is impossible. The central nervous system does not regenerate, so connecting it through transplantation is meaningless. 

✔Question 2

-Pharos: Do you have a positive or negative opinion about head transplant surgery? Why do you feel that way?

✔Answers

-Samsung Medical Center physical therapist: I have a negative opinion. I think natural population decline should proceed, instead of additional life extension through the development of medical technology.

-Orthopedic surgeon: I think it’s a vain technique. Currently, the recovery of spinal paralysis patients and spinal crush damage caused by cervical, thoracic, and lumbar fractures is not possible. Therefore, it’s nonsense to do a head transplant surgery that has never been performed before because even treatment for patients with spinal injuries is not properly working.

 There are still various voices on the new technology developed by BrainBridge. As it is a new invention directly related to the human body and life, those who develop it and those who will use it if the technology is successfully implemented must have a tremendous sense of responsibility and mission. There is no telling when and how far in the future technology will advance beyond the limits of humanity. However, it is clear that all technologies must be developed and used in a way that helps humans.

79th Reporter • NAM HYE SEUNG • namhyeseung50@gmail.com