The first ever heart transplant was performed by surgeon Christiaan Barnard in December 1967 (American College of Cardiology, 2015) It was successful, however, the drugs given to him to suppress his immune system left him susceptible to sickness and he died 18 days later due to double pneumonia. Prior to his death, his heart had functioned normally and thus human heart transplants were now a reality. During the 1970s, the development of superior anti-rejection drugs made the transplant more viable. The main issue at the time was people’s ideas about the transplant, they believed Barnard was trying to “play God” and that transplants were unnatural. That idea is still believed by some, however, through seeing the benefits and the improved medical
