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Beware of pigs

XENOTRANSPLANTATION, the practice of transplanting animal organs in human patients, has been challenged by British human rights group.

The report, co-authored by the British Union for Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) and Compassion in World Farming (CWF), challenging the usefulness and safety of the practice, says that there was little evidence that pig or monkey organs could sustain human life.

Animal tissues can pass on new viruses to humans, and patients suffer unknown psychological consequences, argue the BUAV and CWF.

The report argues that not only animals suffer from xenotransplantation, but for the sake of making quick money lives of patients are imperiled.

"We seem to be almost sleepwalking, oblivious to all the dangers," said BUAV chief executive Mike Baker. He also argued that guidelines on xenotransplantation announced in July failed to address the dangers of technology.

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