Commentary: On the position paper of the Ethics Committee of the International Xenotransplantation Association.

The Position Paper of the Ethics Committee of the International Xenotransplantation Association has argued in favor of moving forward with xenotransplantation trials but only under highly controlled conditions, including consideration of ethical concerns. Although stressing the importance of ethics, this recommendation to proceed was ultimately based on a risk-benefit calculus. There are two areas that need to be addressed more fully: 1) the nature of the decision to be made; and 2) the nature and extent of participation by publics as part of this political process.