Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
A BARCELONA-based hospital performed the first ever face transplant involving a donor that chose assisted suicide, marking an important medical milestone in Spain.
The hospital confirmed that the operation lasted for close to 24hours and involved 100 medical personnel.
Officials at the hospital said that this is the first face transplant performed anywhere in the globe using a deceased donor.
Carme, the recipient, suffered severe facial injury two years ago after contracting a bacterial disease.
Her illness was so severe that she could not eat, talk or breathe.
After the marathon surgery, she stated that “now my life is beginning to get better.”
After four months, I am able to talk, eat and drink again.
Doctors say the focus of the transplant was on restoring functions, not appearance.
Joan-Pere Barret said that “face transplantation is functional surgery” at the Hospital.
“A transplanted facial implant that is not able to feel or move at all is no more than a mask.”
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The donor was an authorised assisted dying woman under Spanish law.
She decided to donate her body, including her face, prior to her death.
Spain’s euthanasia legislation came into force on June 20, 2021. It allows organ donation, but only under strict conditions.
The case has been approved by both the Ethics Committees and Spain’s National Transplant Organisation.
Beatriz Dominguez-Gil, head of the organisation, described the operation as a ‘collective achievement’.
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