Valery Spiridonov Volunteers for Head Transplant Surgery

The announcement of Valery Spiridonov, a Russian software specialist, volunteering for head transplant surgery has sparked various reactions worldwide. Mr. Spiridonov has stated that he will attend a press conference in Illinois, USA, to explain his reasons for his decision. This software specialist suffers from an incurable disease. He volunteered for the surgery after an Italian doctor named Sergio Canavero announced that the conditions for a successful head transplant operation were in place if a suitable volunteer was found, and he published proposals for possible methods of performing it. Dr. Canavero detailed the head transplant procedure in an article in the International Journal of Neurosurgery. According to Interfax news agency, Mr. Spiridonov has been invited by Dr. Canavero to participate in the Illinois conference. Currently, Dr. Canavero, along with a group of leading neurospecialists, is examining the details of this surgical operation. Spiridonov told Interfax that it took him two years to convince himself to volunteer for this dangerous and complex procedure: 'I have been receiving the necessary psychological counseling for this operation for a long time and have prepared for it; my mother is a psychologist.' Meanwhile, the former head of the health inspection organization expressed doubts about the ethical standards of such an operation in response to Spiridonov's decision. 'Gennady Onishchenko' stated, 'From a surgical techniques perspective, such an operation is entirely understandable and feasible. However, the consequences of such an operation are a concern for us. The ethical and spiritual issues associated with it are what worry us.' Previously, the British newspaper Daily Mail reported that Dr. Canavero initially wanted his patients to be individuals suffering from muscle atrophy. Spiridonov, in an interview with the Russian network RT, stated that he suffers from a rare muscle disease that gradually causes the patient to lose their muscles: 'I am very interested in technology and anything that improves people's lives. Undergoing this operation is not only a great opportunity for me, but it also lays the foundation for the scientific method of such an operation for future generations, regardless of the outcome of this surgery.' This head transplant surgery volunteer emphasized that his decision is final and will not change: 'If I do not take this chance, my fate will be very sad. Every year that passes, my condition worsens.' According to the initial planning, the head transplant is scheduled to take place in 2016.