A Short, Speckled History of a Transplanted Hand. After twenty-nine months, the hand is amputated by the same surgeon who had originally done the transplant. The patient says he feels the best he has since he received the hand, and acknowledges his responsibility for not keeping up with the anti-rejection drug regimen and the physical therapy necessary to maintain its viability. This man who originally told his surgeons he had lost his hand in an industrial accident turned out to instead have received the injury while in prison serving time for fraud. His con game evaded months of pre-transplant interviewing and psychological testing. Nine patients in six countries have since received transplanted hands, including three who have gotten double transplants of both the right and left hands. The New York Times report says that all appear to be doing well.