It was an operation that attracted worldwide attention: two months ago, a genetically modified pig heart was transplanted to a 57-year-old in the USA. Now he is dead. What the setback means for medicine.
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Werner Bartens
On January 7th, David Bennett senior underwent the experimental operation. On March 8th, two months later, his new heart stopped beating. The 57-year-old, who was the first person in the world to have a genetically modified pig heart implanted, is dead. A few days ago his condition suddenly deteriorated, but so far “no specific cause of death” has been determined, according to the clinic. A spokesman for the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore said the patient had not left the hospital since the procedure, and awaiting a more detailed examination. According to hospital information, the results will not be announced in a few days, but only when they are published in a specialist journal.