Body Transfers

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Notes

¹ I employ the expression ‘organ transfer’ as a means to underscore the inseparability of organ donation, procurement, and transplantation. This discussion is confined exclusively to cadaveric forms of organ transfer, where organs are acquired from deceased donors. Living donation (involving, for instance, the removal of one kidney from a healthy donor) generates a different set of subjective experiences and, thus, I exclude this form of transfer from this discussion. (See, however, Fox and Swazey 1992)

² More specifically, my work current addresses experimental attempts to develop implantable heart devices and other research designed to generate organs from transgenic or genetically modified miniature swine to replace human parts.

³ Following standard anthropological practice, I employ a pseudonym to protect this interviewee's anonymity.