In The Human Subject, Dr Adam Rutherford and Dr Julia Shaw tell the story of Andemariam Beyene, an engineering student from Eritrea studying in Iceland. In 2011 he was desperate for a cure to the large tumour discovered in his trachea. He had tried surgery and radiotherapy and nothing had worked.
Dr Paolo Macchiarini, Karolinska Institute's star surgeon presents himself as Andemarian's best and last option. He proposes an experimental treatment - but one that has never been done before on a human being. Andemariam would be the first. Unfortunately, he agrees to it.
Julia and Adam speak with Karl-Henrik Grinnemo, a professor in cardiothoracic surgery at Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden, who was at Karolinska Institute during Paolo Macchiarini's tenure.
Presenters: Dr Adam Rutherford and Dr Julia Shaw
Producer: Simona RataAssistant Producer: Mansi VithlaniExecutive Producer: Jo MeekSound Design: Craig EdmondsonCommissioner: Dan ClarkeAn Audio Always production for BBC Radio 4