Posted: March 18th, 2023

Barney Clark Organ Transplantation Term Paper

Salt Lake City Utah, Dr. William DeVries operated on Barney Clark, a dentist from Seattle, to replace his failing heart with a mechanical one. Clark suffered multiple complications, both involving his own body and the functionality of the Jarvik-7 mechanical heart, and after 112 days of extraordinary efforts to keep Clark alive, his heart was turned off on March 23, 1983, and he died. When he died, the Jarvik-7 heart had beaten 12,912,499 times (Pence, DATE).

This medical event raised a number of medical, legal and ethical issues involving The ability of Clark to continue to make his own medical decisions, the NIH decision to allow DeVries to use the heart on a human, whether the state of Clark’s health following his surgeries justified the extreme measures taken to try to extend his life, and possible conflicts of interest regarding Dr. DeVries.

Shortly after World War II, two members of congress who had special interests in medical issues generally and heart disease in particular pushed for the government to fund research on the causes and treatments of heart disease (Pence, DATE).

This research led to a variety of developments in the treatment of life-threatening heart disease. Michael DeBakey developed a “left ventricle assist device” (LVAD) in the 1960’s (Pence, DATE). Research on that approach continues to this day. LVAD’s, by supporting the function of the ventricles, can keep a heart going until a transplant is available.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded the development of artificial hearts from 1964 to 1982 as well as LVAD’s. During that time they provided $200 million in funds for that research (Pence, DATE). DeVries, working with Robert Jarvik, who had previously invented the first devices for hemodialysis to support patients with kidney failure, worked on an artificial heart that would attach to the atria, replace the ventricles, and be pumped from external equipment. The patient would have to be connected by tubes to the external machinery, which weighed 375 lb. And was contained on a rolling cart fo the patient could have some mobility (Pence, DATE).

Barney Clark was not the first patient caught up in ethical discussions regarding an artificial heart, however. In 1969, a colleague of DeBakey secretly hired some of DeBakey’s staff in an attempt to develop his own artificial heart. The patient, Haskell Karp, was supposed to receive an artificial, in itself a very new and controversial procedure then. Instead, Cooley implanted his LVAD, without permission from the United States Public Health Services committee that reviews medical experiments (Pence, DATE). Karp survived, comatose, for three days. It turned out later that Cooley had tried his device in several calves, all of whom died. Cooley repeated the operation on a human two years later with similar results. By comparison, DeVries was working on his artificial heart working within rules established within the medical profession (Pence, DATE).

There were serious medical issues involved in the decision to implant the first Jarvik-7 heart into Barney Clark. Clark had not only severe heart disease but severe emphysema as well. He might have been a candidate for a heart-lung transplant, except for his age, 61. The heart-lung transplant program had a cutoff age of 50 (Pence, DATE). Medically it was a difficult decision because of the very real possibility that the surgery itself could kill Clark (Pence, DATE).

The Jarvik-7 was designed to replace the lower two chambers of the heart, the left and right atria, the parts that do the pumping. It was constructed primarily of plastic, polyurethene and aluminum, and attached to the ventricles with Velcro, with one strip of the two-piece system attached to the bottoms of the ventricles. It ran on compressed air provided by the external unit and connected to the mechanical heart with tubes (Pence, DATE).

The surgery itself was not uneventful. DeVries could not get the implanted heart to function properly, and after trying to force it to work three times, doing something that introduced real risk of a stroke for the patient each time, he had to replace a defective part from another Jarvik-7. They also had great difficulty stitching the Velcro strip to Clark’s ventricles because the walls were very thin.

Clark suffered many medical problems after the surgery. Repeated infections because of the necessity of hoses entering his body led to complications from all the antibiotics. He deteriorated in significant ways psychologically, and finally died from multiple organ failure, never achieving anything resembling what most would consider an acceptable quality of life (Pence, DATE).

DeVries had permission from the NIH to proceed under some guidelines. In addition the hospital had put strict guidelines in place, requiring among other things that the patient be near death (Pence, DATE). DeVries technically met the multiple restraints placed on whom should receive the first Jarvik-7.

One of the grounds for criticizing DeVries’ determination that the operation was a success was that other prominent heart surgeons seemed to set a higher mark. Michael DeBakey, for instance, argued that a good outcome should be that the patient returned to “normal life” (Pence, DATE). DeVries argued that Clark’s surgery amounted to being experimental. While Clark acknowledged that the surgery was experimental, clearly he also hoped that it would be therapeutic and thereby extend his life (p. 286). DeVries argued that it was up to the patient and his family to judge whether the quality of life was adequate. Clark was willing to take a gamble on life, but critics argue that he may not have fully realized just how severe the complications after the surgery might be, and in particular they argue that he might not have agreed had he known that his ability to think clearly would end up compromised (Pence, DATE). These considerations suggest that DeVries rationalized the success of the surgery. Interviews with Clark were heavily edited so that most people did not hear the negative things he had to say about his medical experience with the Jarvik-7. Others compared Clark’s experience to the case of Karen Quinlan, who remained on life support for years before dying (Pence, DATE). Critics suggest that DeVries put so much time and energy into developing an artificial heart that he had lost objectivity regarding its usefulness and potential risks.

This seems borne out by what DeVries had to say at the time. He described Clark as better off: “up and around. He was putting golf at one point…” (Academy of Achievement, DATE). DeVries did not mention the mental deterioration or what it took to be “up and around” but tethered to a rolling 375 lb. machine, unable to leave the hospital.

Another ethical consideration deals with the organ the Jarvik-7 replaced. If the mechanical heart fails, the patient will die within minutes. This is not true with dialysis; the patient can simply be hooked up to another machine, or wait a day for dialysis. While unpleasant, it would not cause immediate death. The mechanics of an artificial heart need to be very dependable, and in the case of the Jarvik-7 they were not. Valves broke and the interior surfaces made it easy for clots to form (Pence, DATE). It’s also questionable whether Clark could make medical decisions for himself after the first surgery because of his deteriorated mental health (Pence, DATE).

But one of the most serious issues is DeVries’ conflict of interest. In addition to his years of research on artificial hearts, which may have clouded his objectivity, DeVries had significant financial interest in the company that sold the Jarvik-7. Several companies had invested in this company and one had, in 1982, pledged a significant purchase — if a successful Jarvik-7 surgery was performed. That was the same year Clark was operated on.

The newer artificial hearts weigh about 2 pounds and are completely contained within the human body, eliminating tubes and the ongoing risk of infection they represent (Simmons, 2001). The interior surfaces are extremely smooth so the surfaces will not facilitate clot formation (Simmons, 2001).

However, research with animals has its limitations. Often calves have been used to test new artificial hearts, but the circulatory system of the cow includes small blood vessels at the base of the skull that prevent blood clots from entering the brain. Thus that biological model cannot test one of the greatest risks to human recovery (Simmons, 2001).

Simmons (2001) argues that informed consent must include a more realistic explanation of the many medical risks that will follow such surgery, along with a realistic assessment of just how unpleasant those complications can be. He notes that researchers will continue to work on artificial hearts, making ethical questions timely and important.

Critics argue that “prolonging death is no triumph” (Ehrenman, 2003). This may depend on the nature of the prolonged death. A cancer patient who lives for three more years, 33 months of which is spent able to be with his family, walk his daughter down the aisle to get married or see a grandchild born, might say the price was worth the benefit. But in the case of Barney Clark, who remained tethered to a large machine and who suffered multiple severe complications, and whose life was only extended via multiple extraordinary measures, many might not agree.

Four more patients received the Jarvik-7 after Clark did (Ehrenman, 2003), and none would be considered a success by DeBakey’s standards as all suffered major complications including stroke and failure of the heart itself. While Clark acknowledged that he was giving back to the medical community that had already extended his life for some years (Pence, DATE), ethics require that patients fully understand how very experimental such surgery is and the grave medical complications that follow it. Surgeons should be very sure that patients do not nurture a secret, unrealistic expectation that they will return to life as they knew it before they developed heart disease, but they also need to understand all the points between that outstanding outcome and death, which could be extended and difficult in coming.

Bibliography

Academy of Achievement. “Willem J. Kollf, M.D., Interview.”

Ehrenman, Gayle. 2003. “A Whole New Heart.” Mechanical Engineering 5:8, pp. 51-54, Aug.

Pence, Gregory E. “Artificial Hearts: Barney Clark” in Classic Cases in Medical Ethics, 2nd Ed.

Simmons, Paul D. 2001. “The Artificial Heart: How Close Are We, and Do We Want to Get There.” Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, pp. 401+.

Staff writers. “Prolonging Death is No Triumph.” Essential Documents in American History.

Get Professional Assignment Help Cheaply

Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Are you scared that your paper will not make the grade? Do you have responsibilities that may hinder you from turning in your assignment on time? Are you tired and can barely handle your assignment? Are your grades inconsistent?

Whichever your reason is, it is valid! You can get professional academic help from our service at affordable rates. We have a team of professional academic writers who can handle all your assignments.

Why Choose Our Academic Writing Service?

• Plagiarism free papers
• Timely delivery
• Any deadline
• Skilled, Experienced Native English Writers
• Subject-relevant academic writer
• Adherence to paper instructions
• Ability to tackle bulk assignments
• Reasonable prices
• 24/7 Customer Support
• Get superb grades consistently

Online Academic Help With Different Subjects

Literature

Students barely have time to read. We got you! Have your literature essay or book review written without having the hassle of reading the book. You can get your literature paper custom-written for you by our literature specialists.

Finance

Do you struggle with finance? No need to torture yourself if finance is not your cup of tea. You can order your finance paper from our academic writing service and get 100% original work from competent finance experts.

Computer science

Computer science is a tough subject. Fortunately, our computer science experts are up to the match. No need to stress and have sleepless nights. Our academic writers will tackle all your computer science assignments and deliver them on time. Let us handle all your python, java, ruby, JavaScript, php , C+ assignments!

Psychology

While psychology may be an interesting subject, you may lack sufficient time to handle your assignments. Don’t despair; by using our academic writing service, you can be assured of perfect grades. Moreover, your grades will be consistent.

Engineering

Engineering is quite a demanding subject. Students face a lot of pressure and barely have enough time to do what they love to do. Our academic writing service got you covered! Our engineering specialists follow the paper instructions and ensure timely delivery of the paper.

Nursing

In the nursing course, you may have difficulties with literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, critical essays, and other assignments. Our nursing assignment writers will offer you professional nursing paper help at low prices.

Sociology

Truth be told, sociology papers can be quite exhausting. Our academic writing service relieves you of fatigue, pressure, and stress. You can relax and have peace of mind as our academic writers handle your sociology assignment.

Business

We take pride in having some of the best business writers in the industry. Our business writers have a lot of experience in the field. They are reliable, and you can be assured of a high-grade paper. They are able to handle business papers of any subject, length, deadline, and difficulty!

Statistics

We boast of having some of the most experienced statistics experts in the industry. Our statistics experts have diverse skills, expertise, and knowledge to handle any kind of assignment. They have access to all kinds of software to get your assignment done.

Law

Writing a law essay may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle, especially when you need to know the peculiarities of the legislative framework. Take advantage of our top-notch law specialists and get superb grades and 100% satisfaction.

What discipline/subjects do you deal in?

We have highlighted some of the most popular subjects we handle above. Those are just a tip of the iceberg. We deal in all academic disciplines since our writers are as diverse. They have been drawn from across all disciplines, and orders are assigned to those writers believed to be the best in the field. In a nutshell, there is no task we cannot handle; all you need to do is place your order with us. As long as your instructions are clear, just trust we shall deliver irrespective of the discipline.

Are your writers competent enough to handle my paper?

Our essay writers are graduates with bachelor's, masters, Ph.D., and doctorate degrees in various subjects. The minimum requirement to be an essay writer with our essay writing service is to have a college degree. All our academic writers have a minimum of two years of academic writing. We have a stringent recruitment process to ensure that we get only the most competent essay writers in the industry. We also ensure that the writers are handsomely compensated for their value. The majority of our writers are native English speakers. As such, the fluency of language and grammar is impeccable.

What if I don’t like the paper?

There is a very low likelihood that you won’t like the paper.

Reasons being:

• When assigning your order, we match the paper’s discipline with the writer’s field/specialization. Since all our writers are graduates, we match the paper’s subject with the field the writer studied. For instance, if it’s a nursing paper, only a nursing graduate and writer will handle it. Furthermore, all our writers have academic writing experience and top-notch research skills.
• We have a quality assurance that reviews the paper before it gets to you. As such, we ensure that you get a paper that meets the required standard and will most definitely make the grade.

In the event that you don’t like your paper:

• The writer will revise the paper up to your pleasing. You have unlimited revisions. You simply need to highlight what specifically you don’t like about the paper, and the writer will make the amendments. The paper will be revised until you are satisfied. Revisions are free of charge
• We will have a different writer write the paper from scratch.
• Last resort, if the above does not work, we will refund your money.

Will the professor find out I didn’t write the paper myself?

Not at all. All papers are written from scratch. There is no way your tutor or instructor will realize that you did not write the paper yourself. In fact, we recommend using our assignment help services for consistent results.

What if the paper is plagiarized?

We check all papers for plagiarism before we submit them. We use powerful plagiarism checking software such as SafeAssign, LopesWrite, and Turnitin. We also upload the plagiarism report so that you can review it. We understand that plagiarism is academic suicide. We would not take the risk of submitting plagiarized work and jeopardize your academic journey. Furthermore, we do not sell or use prewritten papers, and each paper is written from scratch.

When will I get my paper?

You determine when you get the paper by setting the deadline when placing the order. All papers are delivered within the deadline. We are well aware that we operate in a time-sensitive industry. As such, we have laid out strategies to ensure that the client receives the paper on time and they never miss the deadline. We understand that papers that are submitted late have some points deducted. We do not want you to miss any points due to late submission. We work on beating deadlines by huge margins in order to ensure that you have ample time to review the paper before you submit it.

Will anyone find out that I used your services?

We have a privacy and confidentiality policy that guides our work. We NEVER share any customer information with third parties. Noone will ever know that you used our assignment help services. It’s only between you and us. We are bound by our policies to protect the customer’s identity and information. All your information, such as your names, phone number, email, order information, and so on, are protected. We have robust security systems that ensure that your data is protected. Hacking our systems is close to impossible, and it has never happened.

How our Assignment  Help Service Works

1.      Place an order

You fill all the paper instructions in the order form. Make sure you include all the helpful materials so that our academic writers can deliver the perfect paper. It will also help to eliminate unnecessary revisions.

2.      Pay for the order

Proceed to pay for the paper so that it can be assigned to one of our expert academic writers. The paper subject is matched with the writer’s area of specialization.

3.      Track the progress

You communicate with the writer and know about the progress of the paper. The client can ask the writer for drafts of the paper. The client can upload extra material and include additional instructions from the lecturer. Receive a paper.

4.      Download the paper

The paper is sent to your email and uploaded to your personal account. You also get a plagiarism report attached to your paper.

PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET A PERFECT SCORE!!!