Valery Spiridonov, 30, of Russia suffers from a rare disease called Werdnig-Hoffman Disease, which is a severe form of spinal muscular atrophy. As such, he has volunteered for the first human head transplant to be conducted by Italian neuroscientist Sergio Canavero, and have his head surgically removed and put onto another body. The procedure will reportedly take 36 hours and require the assistance of 150 doctors and nurses.
Sound super easy! Right? NOT SO MUCH, according to Science Alert:
“A Werdnig-Hoffman disease sufferer with rapidly declining health, Spiridonov is willing to take a punt on this very experimental surgery and you can’t really blame him, but while he is prepared for the possibility that the body will reject his head and he will die, his fate could be considerably worse than death,” says Hootan.
“I would not wish this on anyone,” said Dr Hunt Batjer, president elect of the American Association for Neurological Surgeons. “I would not allow anyone to do it to me as there are a lot of things worse than death.”
From speaking to several medical experts, Hootan has pin-pointed a problem that even the most perfectly performed head transplant procedure cannot mitigate – we have literally no idea what this will do to Spiridonov’s mind. There’s no telling what the transplant – and all the new connections and foreign chemicals that his head and brain will have to suddenly deal with – will do to Spiridonov’s psyche, but as Hootan puts it rather chillingly, it “could result in a hitherto never experienced level and quality of insanity.”
One of the scariest things I’ve ever read of Stephen King’s that’s stuck with me was “The Jaunt” from his short story anthology, Skeleton Crew. The story involved teleportation into space, but one had to be under general anesthesia because, while the physical process took a fraction of a second, it was an eternity to the human mind. And, of course, someone held their breath while being anesthetized and went completely insane.
So, this head transplant stuff, to me, basically sounds exactly like that. Maybe we should just not transplant human heads? Has anyone thought of that? (Via BroBible)
Now check out…
All The ‘Archer’ Quotes You Should Be Using In Everyday Conversation
by Stephen Tompkins
Have you been going through Archer withdrawal since Vice ended back in April? Have you found yourself binge watching old episodes on Netflix with your friends and family in anticipation for the approaching sixth season in January? We sure have. To help you fight the shakes, I’ve gathered all of the Archer quotes you should be using every day to stave off any further withdrawals…
“I swear to god I had something for this.” — Archer
Everyday use: When you want to say something clever but can’t think of anything.
“You’re not my supervisor!” — Cheryl
Everyday use: Whenever you don’t want to do something.
“Holy sh*tsnacks!” — Pam
Everyday use: Any and all moments of surprise.
“Phrasing.” — Archer
Everyday use: When you’re out to dinner with your family.
“Yup.” — Lana
Everyday use: When you know you’re in the right.
“Boop.” — Archer
Everyday use: When someone is just being so darned cute.
“I’m Pacman Jones!” — Pam
Everyday use: When you’re making it rain.
“Read a book.” — Archer
Everyday use: Whenever others don’t get your references.
“Sploosh!” — Various
Everyday use: When something is getting you all hot.
“Rampage!” — Archer
Everyday use: Instead of whatever you currently use to pump yourself up.
“You’re not my friend, you’re a Decepticon!” — Pam
Everyday use: When you’ve been betrayed.
“Power blackout.” — Archer
Everyday use: After you’ve done some heavy day drinking.
“Just the tip.” — Archer
Everyday use: When you’re splitting the check.
“Do you not?” — Archer
Everyday use: When someone confronts your guilty pleasures.
“Idiots doing idiot things, because they’re idiots.” — Archer
Everyday use: When everyone else is against you.
“Can’t or won’t?” — Archer
Everyday use: When you need some clarification.
“Look at his tufted ears!” — Archer
Everyday use: Anytime you see an adorable animal.
“The cumulative hangover will kill me.” — Archer
Everyday use: I’ll leave this up to you.
“Danger Zone!” — Archer
Everyday use: Any time, any place.