In Other Words

Redefining ‘Face Lift’

So what are the ethical implications of a face transplant? Taking the face from a dead person and then placing it on somebody who has suffered from a severe accident, such as burns, scarring; or somebody who might have a birth defect or a disease.

When I first read the idea I have to admit it made cold shivers run down my spine, I don’t know why, logically I can’t think of a reason to object to it, except for possible criminal reasons (like in the movie Face Off), which would be very unlikely in a controlled legal medical environment. Emotionally, however, I’ll admit it did disturb me.

I think what got me most was the idea of wearing the face of a dead man. That reminded me straight away of that scene from Silence of the Lambs, which caused me terrible nightmares when I was a kid (the idea of him wearing the other guy’s face to impersonate him was, to say it lightly, disturbing).

I think it stems from our natural fear of somebody stealing our identity, which would leave us without a proper identity. That, in turn, links into our fears of being meaningless and, quite literally, faceless. Just another insignificant ‘average Joe’ that we always see, but vow never to become, all the while fearing that we are just that.

Or at least, that’s what I think it is in my case.

What do you think?

posted by Symbol @ 20.9.04