Charla Nash: Chimp attack victim denied face transplant

Charla Nash, the 56-year-old woman who had one of her hands, nose, lips and eyelids ripped off by a friend's pet chimpanzee, Travis, last year has been denied both a face and hand transplant by the Cleveland Clinic, where the first American face transplant was performed in 2009.

Apparently, both transplants have to be done at the same time and must come from the same donor. The Cleveland Clinic has never done a hand transplant before.

While the hospital has not ruled out working with another facility in the future, they released a statement that "Due to the complexity of her injuries, the medical team has concluded she is not a candidate for transplantation at this time."

In November, Charla went on the "Oprah Winfrey" show to discuss her injuries and to reveal her face for the first time to the public. Since her eyes had to be removed following the incident, she can no longer see. She also lost some of her scalp and jawbone.

Police officers shot and killed Travis at the time of the attack.


'Oprah': Chimp victim Charla Nash reveals face, life since attack


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