The plan to perform body-to-head transplantation by several neurosurgeons and their teams in China has been well-spread throughout the news. Aside from scientific criticisms by much of the medical community, a large cohort of the professional ethics community weighed in on what they believed to be outright and outlandish ethical risks, yet much of the ethical benefits were left unassessed. Historically, groundbreaking transplantation procedures have faced vehement opposition before achieving success. The medical team thus sought ethical analysis by a 3rd party in order to identify potential issues and possibly take them into consideration.

The proposed procedure raised complex ethical and legal concerns. While historical precedents and the potential for scientific advancements were present, careful consideration with regards to patient safety, consent, fairness in access, and the legal implications of identity were required. Robust ethical frameworks and clear legal definitions were needed to address these challenges before proceeding.

Several significant ethical dilemmas that needed to be addressed were encountered. These dilemmas stemmed from the unprecedented nature of the human body-to-head transplant (BHT) procedure and the profound implications it carried. These included identity and personal autonomy, informed consent, medical risk and benefit analysis, allocation of resources and issues of justice, cost, and public perception and media influence.

Addressing these ethical dilemmas required a thoughtful and comprehensive approach, which involved engaging in extensive dialogue, conducting thorough risk and benefit assessments, considering existing ethical frameworks, and developing novel guidelines to guide decision-making and ensure the welfare and autonomy of all parties involved.