The transplant was hailed a “truly remarkable breakthrough,” which could pave the way for future procedures.
A US man, who became the first-ever recipient of a pig heart died two months after undergoing the world-first’s transplant surgery.
57-year-old David Bennett, a terminal heart disease patient, received the transplant on 7th January.
The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), where Bennet was admitted informed that his condition began deteriorating several days ago, and he was given “compassionate palliative care” after it became clear that he would not recover.
“[He] wasn’t able to overcome what turned out to be the devastating debilitation” caused by the heart failure he experienced before the transplant,” Dr. Bartley Griffith, director of the UMCC cardiac transplant program, said in a recorded statement.
First animal-human heart transplant
Bennett, who first came to UMMC as a patient in October was deemed ineligible for a conventional heart transplant due to his poor health. He was instead placed on a heart-lung bypass machine.
However, since his condition was critical, he became the unlikely candidate to receive the pig heart that had been modified to prevent rejection with the use of new gene editing tools.
The never-done-before surgery was granted by the Food and Drug Administration under emergency authorization.
According to Griffith, the transplanted heart functioned “beautifully”.
Dr. Muhammad M. Mohiuddin, director of the university’s Cardiac Xenotransplantation Program, in a video statement added: “Until day 45 or 50, he was doing very well, but off and on, he was having infectious episodes.
“We were having difficulty finding a balance between his immunosuppression and controlling his infection. Unfortunately, multiple organs started to fail, and finally, I think that resulted in his passing away.”
In the two months following the procedure, Bennett was able to spend time with family and watch the Super Bowl with his physical therapist.
‘Do people really want a genetically modified pig’s heart inside them?’
Despite the outcome, many of the medical fraternity called the heart transplant a “truly remarkable breakthrough,” which could pave the way for future procedures.
Currently 17 people die every day in the US waiting for a transplant, with more than 100,000 reportedly on the waiting list.
Bennett’s son, David Bennett, Jr., who described the surgery as a ‘miracle’ said: “We hope this story can be the beginning of hope and not the end,” in the University’s statement.
“We also hope that what was learned from his surgery will benefit future patients and hopefully one day, end the organ shortage that costs so many lives each year.”
However, animal advocates have since the outset questioned the ethical aspect of the process and whether the American public really want a genetically modified pig’s heart inside them?
Vegan charity PETA branded Bennett’s surgery “unethical, dangerous, and a tremendous waste of resources.”
The organisation added that organ shortages can be solved without animals, and that the US should instead appeal for an “opt-in” donation policy rather than an “opt-out.”
Dr. Alka Chandna, PETA’s vice president of laboratory investigations cases said: “Animal-to-human transplants are unethical, dangerous, and a tremendous waste of resources that could be used to fund research that might actually help humans.
“The risk of transmitting unknown viruses along with the animal organ are real and, in the time of a pandemic, should be enough to end these studies forever.
“Animals aren’t toolsheds to be raided but complex, intelligent beings. It would be better for them and healthier for humans to leave them alone and seek cures using modern science.”
Share this story: Man given genetically modified pig heart dies after two months.
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
Gordon Ramsay Ditches Vegan Hate and Backs Flora’s Plant-Based Butter in New ‘Skip the Cow’ Campaign
- Totally Vegan Buzz Team
- 28th January 2025
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, once infamous for his digs at vegans, has taken a sharp turn in the kitchen. Ramsay has teamed up with Flora, the famous UK-based spread brand, as its global ambassador, marking a bold new chapter in Flora’s “Skip the Cow” campaign. Flora, established in 1964, has long been a household name …
The Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Places in Latin America
- Totally Vegan Buzz Team
- 27th January 2025
Latin America is experiencing an extraordinary rise in plant-based dining options. A new study, spearheaded by Veganuary in partnership with the food discovery platform HappyCow, reveals that Latin America now boasts over 10,000 vegan, vegetarian, and vegan-friendly restaurants—an impressive 21.6% jump compared to last year. Brazil takes the crown as the number one country, with …
Continue reading “The Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Places in Latin America”
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. [wpViralQuiz id=27203]
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. [wpViralQuiz id=33494]
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. [wpViralQuiz id=31281] Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God