First Permanent Artificial Heart Surgery
December 2nd, 1982
December 2nd, 1982

How Long Ago?
42 years, 3 months, 13 days ago
Location
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Category
Health & Medicine
People
- Dr. Robert Jarvik
- Barney Clark
Links & References
Tags
First Permanent Artificial Heart Surgery
Barney Clark, a 61-year-old dentist, received the Jarvik-7, the first permanent artificial heart, at the University of Utah. This groundbreaking surgery aimed to provide an alternative for patients suffering from severe heart disease. The device, designed by Dr. Robert Jarvik, was implanted in Clark after his heart had begun to fail. Clark lived for 112 days after the surgery, bringing attention to the advancements in cardiac technology and the ethical implications of artificial organs.
First permanent artificial heart recipient in history
Surgery led by Dr. Robert Jarvik
Clark survived for 112 days post-surgery
Raised ethical questions about life extension
What Happened?
Barney Clark became the first recipient of a permanent artificial heart on December 2, 1982, during a surgical procedure at the University of Utah. The surgery was led by Dr. Robert Jarvik, who developed the Jarvik-7 heart, a device made of plastic and metal designed to replace a failing heart. At the age of 61, Clark, a dentist from Seattle, was suffering from heart disease and had reportedly been disqualified from a heart transplant due to his deteriorating condition. The hope was that the Jarvik-7 would bridge the gap until a compatible donor heart could be found. Clark’s surgery was a complex procedure that lasted nearly five hours and involved meticulously connecting the artificial heart to the patient's veins and arteries, providing him with a new means of circulation.
In the months following the surgery, Clark’s condition garnered widespread media attention. As a pioneer of modern medical technology, he became a figure of curiosity and controversy, as doctors, ethicists, and the public debated the implications of artificial hearts. While the Jarvik-7 was able to keep Clark alive, it also required external control systems and wasn't without complications. Clark faced numerous health issues related to the artificial heart, and his quality of life became a focus of public discussion, leading to questions about patient autonomy, consent, and the definition of a good quality of life compared to merely extending it.
Clark lived for 112 days after the surgery, during which he participated in various interviews and public engagements, sharing his experiences and thoughts on life with an artificial heart. His story culminated in both scientific achievement and a larger conversation about ethics in medicine, particularly surrounding life-sustaining treatments. After Clark's death in March 1983, the conversation continued, influencing cardiac care and the ongoing development of artificial organs in medicine.
Why Does it Matter?
Barney Clark's surgery is significant in the fields of medicine and bioethics. It showcased the potential of artificial organs to extend life but also raised critical questions surrounding the ethics of such procedures, including issues of consent and quality of life. This landmark procedure paved the way for advancements in heart replacements and organ transplant methodologies, establishing a foundation for future innovations while also prompting discussions that continue to resonate in the medical community today.
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