Archives » Thursday, December 20, 2007
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David Botti
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Dec 20, 2007 12:17 PM
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.
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