World’s First Recipient of Pig Kidney Transplant Dies at 62

Richard “Rick” Slayman, 62, the first person to receive a pig kidney transplant, has passed away two months after the groundbreaking procedure performed at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). Slayman, who suffered from end-stage kidney disease, underwent the operation in March, marking a historic milestone in organ transplantation.

Despite the pioneering nature of the transplant, MGH clarified that there is no indication that Slayman’s death was a result of the procedure. Prior to the pig kidney transplant, Slayman had battled Type 2 diabetes and hypertension, alongside kidney disease. A previous human kidney transplant in 2018 began to fail after five years, leading to the decision for the pig kidney transplant.

Following the successful operation on March 16, Slayman’s doctors noted that the new organ was functioning well, alleviating the need for dialysis. While Slayman’s passing is a somber development, his role as the first recipient of a pig kidney transplant represents a significant advancement in medical science and offers hope for future organ transplantation research.