Boston Children’s Hospital is announcing Monday that it has started the world’s first hand transplant program for youngsters, with the goal of restoring limbs to victims of devastating infections, fires, or accidents.
A hospital ethics committee approved the program following a two-year review, and doctors said they will begin evaluating children immediately.
Initially, they will consider only children who are missing both hands and who are at least age 10, believed to be old enough to understand the operation. Doctors said they don’t know how many children would qualify, but believe the number is small.
Under guidelines established by the hospital ethics committee, doctors must obtain a child’s “assent’’ for the transplant, in addition to getting consent from parents.
Source: www.bostonglobe.com
A hospital ethics committee approved the program following a two-year review, and doctors said they will begin evaluating children immediately.
Initially, they will consider only children who are missing both hands and who are at least age 10, believed to be old enough to understand the operation. Doctors said they don’t know how many children would qualify, but believe the number is small.
Under guidelines established by the hospital ethics committee, doctors must obtain a child’s “assent’’ for the transplant, in addition to getting consent from parents.
Source: www.bostonglobe.com
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