World's first facial transplant from a donor after euthanasia performed in Spain

A Spanish hospital has achieved a global medical breakthrough by performing the world’s first facial transplant using tissues from a donor who underwent medically assisted death. This was reported by Euronews. The operation was carried out at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona and is regarded as a significant step forward in the field of complex transplant and reconstructive surgery.

The transplant recipient is a woman with severe facial tissue damage resulting from a serious infection. Her condition led to significant impairment of vital functions such as breathing, eating, and speech. Thanks to the transplant, partial facial reconstruction was achieved, marking the beginning of functional recovery.

The donor had undergone medically assisted death—a practice that has been legal in Spain since 2021. She had provided explicit prior consent for the donation of organs and tissues following the procedure. This allowed medical teams to prepare the transplant in detail, including careful matching and planning of the facial tissues used.

The operation was led by Dr. Joan Pere Barret, Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns at Vall d’Hebron, and was performed by a multidisciplinary team of approximately 100 healthcare professionals. The team included surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, as well as experts in microsurgery, immunology, and mental health.

According to Dr. Barret, these types of transplants require years of preparation and lifelong monitoring of the patient. The procedure involves the transplantation of skin, muscles, nerves, and bone structures, as well as long-term immunosuppressive treatment to prevent tissue rejection.

The hospital emphasizes that the operation was conducted in strict compliance with all ethical and legal requirements. The medical team expressed gratitude to the donor and her family, noting that their awareness and willingness to donate made this significant achievement for global medicine possible.

*Photo: Euronews