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Cod Skin Graft For My Surgical Wound? I Chose To Say No

From Reverend William Melton, CompassionConsortium.org
May 2022

Me: "So, are you saying that you will use the skin of another living being, a codfish, to heal my surgical wound?" Surgeon: "Yes, that is the indicated medical procedure." Me: "I have a problem with that. I am an ethical vegan and I oppose the use of animals for the benefit of humans, whether for food, clothing, or any other purpose." Surgeon: [blank stare]....

wild Cod

My Tale of Woe

In January of 2022, I developed osteomyelitis (a bone infection) in my right foot. It had developed to the point that surgery was required. As I was being wheeled into surgery, I was told my entire right foot would need to be amputated. As it turned out, this was not required and the brilliant surgeons were able to save my foot. However, my right big toe was amputated and I was left with a huge, gaping surgical wound from my big toe, across the bottom of my foot and several inches up into my right ankle, where the surgeons had to cut away the infection.

Just as an FYI, I do not recommend this situation to any of you.

A few days after the procedure, the surgeon came into my hospital room to check on me and discuss next steps. The conversation went like this.

Surgeon: "The operation was successful. We were able to save your foot, but you have a major surgical wound that will need to heal. Next week we will do a skin graft to close the wound and help it heal."

Me: "OK. Where will the skin for the graft come from?" (thinking he would say my leg, or hip, etc.)

Surgeon: "Now we use cod skin for skin grafts. It is efficient, does not require any surgical graft of you own skin, and will really speed up the healing process."

Me: "So, are you saying that you will use the skin of another living being, a codfish, to heal my surgical wound?"

Surgeon: "Yes, that is the indicated medical procedure."

Me: "I have a problem with that. I am an ethical vegan and I oppose the use of animals for the benefit of humans, whether for food, clothing, or any other purpose."

Surgeon: [blank stare}

Me: "What is the alternative treatment?"

Surgeon: "Well, we can see if it heals on its own, but it is a major wound and this will take a long time, and the healing process will be painful."

Me: "It will not be as painful for me as it would be for the codfish. I guess this is the path we will have to take."

Did You Know…

I was initially shocked at the idea that a codfish would be cavalierly killed to assist me in my healing process. I had no idea that animals were used in medicines and medical devices. Of course, I'm familiar with the issue of using animals for pharmaceutical and cosmetic testing, and the training of physicians and veterinarians. I'm also aware of of the efforts of PETA, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and other organizations to end this. But I am talking about the widespread use of non-human animals in products that are used to treat humans. I suspect that you may be unaware of this, just as I was until confronted with it in that hospital room.

I am obviously not a doctor or researcher, so I am writing this from my own personal experience, and with input from Dr. Alka Chandna, Vice President of Laboratory Investigations Cases at PETA, a contribution from Diane Rose-Solomon (from our Compassion Consortium community), and from the articles cited below.

Use of Animals in Medicine

Rather than overwhelm you with information regarding the common use of animals in human medicine, following is list of resources that you can access to learn about this issue, possible alternatives, and what is being done in the animal rights world to deal with this. I think you will be shocked, or at the very least surprised.

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