[arm55]

I'm glad that there are people out there thinking about these things. I've witnessed first hand some pretty amazing limb functionality improvements through nerve repair and definitely understand his confidence in that realm. However, I can't think of a scenario in which testing this really could be justified. The one that comes to mind first, of course, is a quadriplegic. But really, we'd be putting a real person through an incredibly traumatic procedure with a high likelihood of fatality for a chance at motility. I don't think there'd be much support for that.

[underlines]

What if a conscious person 100% agrees to donating him/herself as a subject for such a test (as a Reciever)? What if the bodies come from brain-dead patients who have fully admitted to donating their bodies (As a donor)?

I see no problem here if all involved persons accept to the procedure. And yes there will always be shady circumstances, but we also have that today with life-insurances, faked deaths, black market organ trade etc.

Why not just ask people? Why do we always have to talk 100 years about it being ethically OK, when there are people that WANT to be volunteers.

[meric]

I think they would probably test it on smaller mammals first, e.g. rats, and practice until the success rate is 90%+, then move on to bigger animals, and so on, and when they perfect the technique, try it on humans. I don't think I'll support it, but I think that would be more easily acceptable if it can be shown the mortality rate can be kept low.

[tyleregeto]

A body (or bodies) involved in a fatal accident are perfect test subjects.