Contradiction surrounds face transplant patient

Dec 6 2005

Controversy continues to grow around the world's first face transplant in France.

Following reports in the British media that have suggested the injuries were a result of an attempted suicide, the French doctor behind the partial face transplant has denied his patient had tried to commit suicide before she was maimed by her own dog.

The denial comes despite a reputable British newspaper saying she had acknowledged this in an interview.

The contradiction is one of the mysteries surrounding last week's groundbreaking operation that grafted a nose, chin and lips from a brain dead donor onto the severely disfigured 38-year-old mother of two teenagers.

The case which has dominated the headlines around the world has raised questions about the ethics of performing such a dramatic operation on someone who may have suffered psychological troubles.

The woman is reported to have spoken by mobile phone from her hospital bed and acknowledged taking an overdose of sleeping pills during a fit of depression this spring.

Apparently she was then mauled by her own Labrador, in circumstances which are still unclear.

The woman is reported to have said the reason for her suicide attempt was a secret, but this has been sharply contested by the surgeon.

Jean-Michel Dubernard, a leading transplant surgeon and one of two heads of the teams that carried out the procedure,says the patient is fine and her general condition is good.

The doctor has accused some of the media of being "odious" in their reporting and has expressed concerns about the possible effects on his patient.

Dubernard has already confirmed that the woman had taken a pill to try to sleep after an argument with one of her daughters, but denied it was a suicide attempt.

According to French laws which protect the anonymity of patients, doctors have refused to identify her or the donor.

But some in the media say the donor was a 38-year-old woman who had hanged herself.

Dubernard and other French officials have refused to discuss specifics, but add that false information has been published about the donor.

Carine Camby, who heads an agency under the Health Ministry that coordinates organ procurement, says how the donor died is not relevant.

The woman's severe facial injuries had apparently made it difficult for her to speak and eat, and prior to the surgery, she was reclusive and wore a surgical mask to hide her face.