When a child is discovering the world, they'll probably reach the stage where they start putting whatever they can find in their mouths. For nervous new parents, this exploration can make them see a choking hazard around every corner.
So when a child does end up swallowing something they're not supposed to eat, it's understandable for them to get concerned about what happens once it makes its way through their bodies.
And since pediatricians would hear more about these anxieties than anyone, it's no surprise that they'd want to get to the bottom of what happens when somebody swallows a small object.
What is surprising is how they went about it.