Devo "Esther" Friedman refuses to take a porcine heart valve because of her strong Orthodox Jewish religious beliefs. Also, right before her surgery she requests that a rabbi bless her - and the rabbi that the hospital supplies is female. In Orthodox Judaism, female rabbis are not considered legitimate, and most Orthodox rabbis would not object to using the porcine valve, since life takes precedence above all else. However, Devo/Esther's particular branch of Orthodox Judaism and/or her personal religious convictions could certainly account for any perceived discrepancy.