First pig heart transplant in humans a failure, Mr Bennett dies

Mr. Bennett with terminal heart disease who made history as the first person to receive a genetically modified pig's heart, passed away yesterday on March 8. He received the transplant on January 7 2022 and lived for two months following the surgery. His condition began deteriorating several days ago. After it became clear that he would not recover, he was given compassionate palliative care.

He was able to communicate with his family during his final hours. Doctors are devastated by the loss of Mr. Bennett. They said he proved to be a brave and noble patient who fought all the way to the end and extended their sincerest condolences to his family. Dr Griffith, who surgically transplanted the pig heart into the patient at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Dr. Griffith is the Thomas E. and Alice Marie Hales Distinguished Professor in Transplant Surgery and Clinical Director of the Cardiac Xenotransplantation Program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM).