"I've heard rumors," I admitted. "Disquieting, I must say." But Dr. Kördann seemed ingenuous, "Rumors? What rumors?" (Which might be the way she needed to react, but I thought we were closer than that.) "Well, the most persistent involves a certain 'demonstration' you've staged with surgical residents," I ventured. "By all accounts, you've pulled vital organs from otherwise healthy patients, knowing there were no donors available. Then you pressured unwitting med students to implant experimental prosthetics, which you had readily available."

She smiled. "Is that all? I'm disappointed by a lack of drama. But curious... According to these legends," she wondered, "has anyone ever accepted the challenge?" I shook my head, "No, and the patients invariably die. The theory is that you do this to make some kind of point."

Dr. Kördann sighed, "Hypothetically," she mused, "if I were to pull such a stunt -- and I'm not sure I understand the impetus -- I probably wouldn't start with a live patient. I mean, the patient might appear to be alive, hooked up to the machines and all. But I suggest that 'staged' might be the key word in your description." She pursed her lips, then added, "You know, conveyers of this fable ought to consider my stint teaching Medical Ethics at Harvard. Not an accredited course... I wasn't technically on staff. But still, it merits consideration."