Conn. woman mauled in chimp attack being evaluated for possible face, hand transplant

Chimp attack victim being evaluated for transplant

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Hospital officials say a Connecticut woman mauled by a chimpanzee is undergoing a preliminary evaluation in Massachusetts to determine if she is a potential candidate for a face and hand transplant.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital said in a statement Monday that Charla Nash will be at the Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospital in Boston for a couple of days for the evaluation.

Nash moved last week from the Cleveland Clinic to a Boston-area assisted-living center, where she plans to continue rehabilitation. The family is trying to keep her exact location private.

The 200-pound pet chimpanzee went berserk in February 2009 after its owner asked Nash to help lure it back into her Stamford house. The animal ripped off Nash’s hands, nose, lips and eyelids.