Surgeon promising first human head transplant makes pitch to US doctors

At annual meeting Dr Sergio Canavero looks to recruit surgeons to help him perform the procedure. 'Today I'm here to give us all a vision'

On Friday afternoon at the Westin Hotel in Annapolis, Maryland, with the volunteer for the first human head transplant by his side, Dr Sergio Canavero made a bid to recruit surgeons willing to help him perform the procedure from an audience of fellow doctors at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurological and Orthopaedic Surgeons.

About a quarter of the seating was given over to video cameras, tripods and lights stands. In order to get the press-friendly doctor to the front of the room, one of the attendees had to take the podium microphone and bellow into the scrum surrounding Canavero: "'Scuse me, press, I would like for you to back off, please. Enough is enough."