Medical and Ethical Challenges During the First Successful Human Kidney Transplantation in 1954 at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Boston

摘要

BACKGROUND: The first successful major organ transplantation, a kidney transplant, took place on December 23, 1954, at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. This was the beginning of major organ transplants commonly performed today, heralding one of the most significant achievements of medicine. A half-century later, heart, liver, limb, and even face transplants have become standard practice. In this report, we explore details of the preparations, the ethical dilemmas and the unknowns, and how these issues were addressed and overcome.