<P>PEOPLE FEAR PERSONALITY TRANSPLANTS</P>
<P><BR>Many people believe that when an organ transplant takes place, parts of the donor’s personality<BR>travels with the organ. This is according to new research into people’s opinions of organ donation.<BR>Professor Bruce Hood from the UK’s Bristol University told a neuro-science conference that most<BR>people are strongly against receiving an organ from a killer. His test volunteers said they’d be very<BR>happy to receive an organ from a “good” person. Professor Hood said some of his patients believed<BR>they now had a part of the personality of their organ donors. He said this even included things like<BR>the memories and experiences of the donor. Other research has found that one in three organ<BR>transplant patients believe they have some aspects of their donor's personality.</P>
<P><BR>Britons generally have a very positive attitude to organ donation. However, Professor Hood says his<BR>findings show many people are superstitious about transplants. He said this is natural because even<BR>the most logical people have many kinds of superstitions. He described a British teenager who was<BR>given a heart transplant against her will. She was afraid that she would be "different with someone<BR>else's heart". Professor Hood said: “Most people were repulsed by the thought of receiving a<BR>transplant from a murderer.” He added: “Essentially they believe they will somehow take on the<BR>characteristics of the donor.” Scientists say there is no proof that personality travels with a donated<BR>organ.</P>
<P><BR>STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)<BR>a) What did you think when you read the headline?<BR>b) What springs to mind when you hear the term ‘organ donation’?<BR>c) Would you be willing to donate your organs after you die?<BR>d) Do you carry an organ donor card?<BR>e) Do you think parts of a donor’s personality is transplanted along with the organ?<BR>f) Would you accept a killer’s heart if you needed a heart transplant?<BR>g) Do you think people should be able to choose the donor if they need a transplant?<BR>h) Do you think it’s possible for memories of the dead donor to be transferred to the new patient?<BR>i) Do you think organ donation is a good thing?<BR>j) What do you think of the idea of a brain transplant?<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)<BR>a) Did you like reading this article?<BR>b) Do people in your country have a positive attitude towards transplants?<BR>c) Do you have any superstitions about transplants?<BR>d) Are you superstitious?<BR>e) What do you think of giving someone a transplant against their will?<BR>f) Would you like a personality transplant?<BR>g) Which person would you like a personality transplant from?<BR>h) What would you worry about if you needed a heart transplant?<BR>i) Would you have a transplanted animal organ if it saved your life?<BR>j) What questions would you like to ask Professor Hood?</P>
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