Soldier's Home : Face Transplants for Injured Veterans?

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Face Transplants for Injured Veterans?

David Botti

Every now and then I think it's wise to look at how other allied countries fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan approach veterans' issues. Last month we took a look at controversies over troop health care in the United Kingdom, similar to those we've had here in the United States. Today's look at foreign veterans isn't quite so similar to anything going on here in the U.S. According to the U.K.'s Sunday Times, the doctor tasked with conducting the world's first full face transplants is offering the surgery to disfigured Iraq/Afghanistan veterans.

Last year Dr. Peter Butler was granted ethical permission to conduct full-face transplants, and he's been looking to perform a series of these operations at 30-day intervals. In 2005, Isabelle Dinoire was the first woman to get a partial transplant.

Dr. Butler has also said American military officials have visited him to discuss nine U.S. troops who may benefit from the operation. As an older veteran severely disfigured in the Falklands War, who's come to grips with his own appearance, told the paper:

"There may be soldiers who have been disfigured for the past four years who may feel that they are so unhappy with their appearance they may wish to look at different alternatives. Face transplant is the only option for full reconstruction."

Here's a BBC graphic on the operation.

Medical Issues, Iraq, Afghanistan

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