DeBakey felt Cooley had stolen his idea and ten years of research. He thought Karp was a poor candidate for an artificial heart and that Cooley should have consulted him before using it. Cooley apparently felt he had to do something for Karp, and the artificial heart was his only choice. He felt DeBakey was primarily concerned because Cooley received credit for implanting the first artificial heart. As a result of the dispute, Cooley resigned from Baylor to associate with the University of Texas at Houston and form the Texas Heart Institute.

Sources:

"An Act of Desperation," Time, 93 (18 April 1969): 58;

"An Artificial Heart," Time, 93 (11 April 1969): 46;

C. P. Gilmore, "Booster Pump Gives New Life to Failing Hearts," Popular Science, 187 (December 1965): 48-51, 194;

"Half-Heart Replacement," Time, 82 (8 November 1963): 50;

"The Most Important Operation in History," Science Digest, 60 (July 1966): 46-49.