Welcome to our weekly column in which a topic of interest, piece of news, relevant opinion, or general request for feedback is presented. We’ll offer the topic du jour and accompanying question, and you have the opportunity to respond with your thoughts.
Simply fill out the form below. A collection of each week’s responses will appear in the following week’s column.
View the responses to "Whose Authority Comes First? (Mask Mandates, etc.)" here.
Publisher reserves the right to edit responses for clarity and publish online and/or in our print publications.
Please let us know your thoughts!
This week’s Feedback Friday topic is:
Animal Organs Harvested for Humans
In a medical first, and what’s being hailed in the medical community as groundbreaking and lifesaving, a Maryland team of surgeons at the University of Maryland Medical Center successfully implanted a pig heart into 57-year-old David Bennett just two weeks ago.
The pig and it’s heart had undergone genetic modifications to give the organ the best possible chance of acceptance within its new (human) body. To date, Bennett remains in stable condition and under close medical supervision.
Citing a severe lack of human organ donations available, medical experts claim the process of growing, genetically modifying, and harvesting organs from animals such as a pig could be the game-saver for thousands on donor waiting lists. And so…
Our questions to you are:
Do you believe this is a medical breakthrough worth pursuing OR an ethical violation of animal rights?
Please share your thoughts by filling out this form. NEW: Today’s responses—and all future Feedback Friday responses—will be published in our Monday newsletters after the weekend.
Last week, we asked you Whose Authority Comes First? (Mask Mandates, etc.) and you responded! Here is a sampling of reader responses. To read more, click here:
First, I did not know appointed officials could override elected officials. Why bother with a vote if an appointed official is going to do what they want to do regardless of a vote outcome.
Second, I do not agree with the mask mandates. They have shown to have little effect, as most masks people wear do not protect against an airborne virus. Two years in, we are at a point where this virus is weakening, vaccines have proven to not prevent viral infection, and much of this has unfortunately been politicized. The human body is amazing and resilient (when healthy). Our focus needs to shift to the treatments available, real meaningful facts and how to become healthier individuals in this country.
Kathryn Benedick, Severna Park
I am happy that someone is taking responsibility for keeping us safe. I think it's even more appropriate for professional public health officials to make that decision than elected officials since all too often, elected officials make political decisions based on what they think their base constituency wants rather than what's in the public health interest of the community.
Lynn McReynolds, Annapolis
