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.