ABSTRACT
The first heart transplant at the end of 1967 fired the imagination of the world. It also proved to be the signal for medical teams in many countries to perform heart transplants, lung transplants, liver transplants and also to step up the rate of kidney transplants. The term ‘spare-part surgery’ became part of popular language. Today doubts are still being expressed as to whether or not there has been a false start. The countries in which these pioneer operations are occurring have been caught unawares and the medical, legal, ethical and social issues are still being debated.
