Rob Stein

Oh, absolutely. You know, I talked to other scientists and bioethicists who said there's not a ton of scientific evidence to support these kinds of surgeries. Elsa Johnson is a bioethicist at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. And she told me she's worried about the health of the pigs and about people getting these treatments.

And she says the way it's happening now with individual experiments, all different teams and protocols and organs and different genetic modifications is not the best way to do science. Hmm. Plus, she worries that these operations might be exploiting patients who are desperate for anything that could help them.

And she says the way it's happening now with individual experiments, all different teams and protocols and organs and different genetic modifications is not the best way to do science. Hmm. Plus, she worries that these operations might be exploiting patients who are desperate for anything that could help them.

And she says the way it's happening now with individual experiments, all different teams and protocols and organs and different genetic modifications is not the best way to do science. Hmm. Plus, she worries that these operations might be exploiting patients who are desperate for anything that could help them.

She's also concerned about the possibility of transmitting viruses from animals to patients, even something that could potentially be transmitted from person to person. The fear is another pandemic. In fact, everyone in the operating room that day, including me, is being tested to make sure we didn't catch a big virus.

She's also concerned about the possibility of transmitting viruses from animals to patients, even something that could potentially be transmitted from person to person. The fear is another pandemic. In fact, everyone in the operating room that day, including me, is being tested to make sure we didn't catch a big virus.

She's also concerned about the possibility of transmitting viruses from animals to patients, even something that could potentially be transmitted from person to person. The fear is another pandemic. In fact, everyone in the operating room that day, including me, is being tested to make sure we didn't catch a big virus.

Yeah, tell me about it. But on the other hand, patients like Tawana are out of other options.

Yeah, tell me about it. But on the other hand, patients like Tawana are out of other options.

Yeah, tell me about it. But on the other hand, patients like Tawana are out of other options.

That's the big question. And, you know, Gina, we're in uncharted territory here. No one really knows what's going to happen. In fact, after being discharged early to an apartment near the hospital, Kawana was back in the hospital for a few days because she had to get an additional anti-rejection drug. Yeah, that was a little worrisome. But her pig kidney is still working well, it seems.

That's the big question. And, you know, Gina, we're in uncharted territory here. No one really knows what's going to happen. In fact, after being discharged early to an apartment near the hospital, Kawana was back in the hospital for a few days because she had to get an additional anti-rejection drug. Yeah, that was a little worrisome. But her pig kidney is still working well, it seems.

That's the big question. And, you know, Gina, we're in uncharted territory here. No one really knows what's going to happen. In fact, after being discharged early to an apartment near the hospital, Kawana was back in the hospital for a few days because she had to get an additional anti-rejection drug. Yeah, that was a little worrisome. But her pig kidney is still working well, it seems.

And doctors remain optimistic. And that's because, you know, she's a lot healthier than the other patients who had received other kinds of genetically modified organs before this. And also, even if this pig organ does fail, she still has the option to go back on dialysis, despite how unpleasant that would be.

And doctors remain optimistic. And that's because, you know, she's a lot healthier than the other patients who had received other kinds of genetically modified organs before this. And also, even if this pig organ does fail, she still has the option to go back on dialysis, despite how unpleasant that would be.

And doctors remain optimistic. And that's because, you know, she's a lot healthier than the other patients who had received other kinds of genetically modified organs before this. And also, even if this pig organ does fail, she still has the option to go back on dialysis, despite how unpleasant that would be.

And, you know, Tawana, who's very religious, says she's happy with the decision, despite what she's heard from some of her friends.

And, you know, Tawana, who's very religious, says she's happy with the decision, despite what she's heard from some of her friends.

And, you know, Tawana, who's very religious, says she's happy with the decision, despite what she's heard from some of her friends.

Oh, absolutely. I'll definitely be following this one.