Worlds first parital face transplant

The worlds first partial face transplant raises interesting issues related to estate planning as well as medical ethics. The article, pictures and a video concerning the procedure can be found by clicking the link above. The estate planning related issue is what powers and what specificity should be required for health care surrogates, personal representatives and powers of attorney for health care.

In the current situation the 38 year old divorced mother of two took sleeping pills to go to sleep after a reported family argument and was then seriously mauled by a dog who did significant damage to hear face making it hard for her to eat, talk and other issues. Doctors determined she had the capacity and the desire to proceed with the procedure although some had questions and the donor for the partial face transplant was from a braindead woman whose family consented. The case would have been governed by the law of France since it occured there but raises interesting issues regarding provisions in the will, living will and health care power of attorney.

Just as advanced directives such as living wills and health care surrogates (also known as powers of attorney for health care) were updated in response to the Health Insurance Portability Act new potential issues need to be considered as well to insure the individuals desires are carried out.