Face Transplants and Death by Neurological Criteria

Are we taking the faces of living donors?

In 2012, Richard Norris became the recipient of the world’s first face transplant, paving the way for a new era in medicine. Our ability to restore a human face to those who have suffered devastating injuries or disfigurements is as miraculous as it is ethically fraught.

Face transplants offer hope to patients who have endured severe trauma, such as gunshot wounds, burns, or other catastrophic events, promising them not only improved functionality but also the potential to regain their identity and reintegrate into society. At the same time, these patients regain this identity by taking on a face that is not their own — one that a donor had to die to provide.