Doctors searching for the facial transplantant patient and donor

The Cleveland Clinic says it is the first institution to receive review board approval of human facial transplant for someone severely disfigured by burns or disease.

Several independent medical teams worldwide also are pursuing the procedure. The Cleveland Clinic said its approval Oct. 15 followed 10 months of debate on medical, ethical and psychological issues.

It has no current patients or &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/fun/2002/07/05/31868.html ' target=_blank>donors for the procedure.

"We are, at this point, ready to begin screening patients," said Dr. Maria Siemionow, the hospital's director of &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/main/18/90/360/11846_surgery.html ' target=_blank>plastic surgery research and training in microscopic surgery, wrote Seattle Post.