Xenotransplantation and genetically modified organisms: ethical criteria for clinical decision-making

Ramos-Zaga F.A. · Gaceta Medica de Mexico (2026) · DOI: 10.24875/gmm.25000321

Resumen

The aim of this article is to propose an integrated normative model that enables hospital ethics committees to assess the clinical legitimacy and moral permissibility of transgenic porcine xenotransplantation, even when the procedure entails the deli-berate transgression of animal genetic ontology. A qualitative, theoretical-analytical study was conducted using an exploratory design and an interpretive approach, structured in three phases: systematic documentary review, critical content analysis, and abductive model construction. The analysis revealed persistent tensions between biosafety and animal welfare, significant regulatory disparities, and normative gaps in institutional governance. The resulting model articulates the principles of proportionality, subsidiarity, transparency and adaptability, establishing parameters applicable to ethical deliberation within hospital settings. Overall, the study provides a robust normative tool for addressing emerging bioethical dilemmas associated with xenotransplantation, thereby reinforcing institutional legitimacy in a context of rapid biotechnological transformation.

Instituciones: Universidad Privada del Norte