Scrutiny On U.S. Organ Transplants: Reports Of Donor Patients Showing Signs Of Life
The U.S. transplant system is under growing scrutiny after reports of premature or mishandled organ retrieval attempts — with some patients reportedly showing signs of life during the process.
The New York Times found 12 alarming cases in 9 states, with medical workers reporting signs of crying and physical resistance from patients who have yet to pass but who are starting the transplant process.
BY THE NUMBERS
Last year, 48,000 transplants were performed in the U.S. Still, more than 100,000 people remain on the waitlist, and about 12 people die every day waiting for an organ. 173 million Americans are registered organ donors — most via their state DMV (look for the small red heart on your driver’s license).
To meet demand, hospitals and Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) — nonprofits that coordinate donations — have been aggressively expanding a practice known as Donation After Circulatory Death (DCD), which made up about a third of organ donations last year. That’s triple from just five years ago.
Most donations come from people who have been declared brain dead. But, in these DCD cases, a family can choose to withdraw life support.
Once the life support is withdrawn, there is a short window when organs are viable and when the heart must stop for the organs to be taken.
TROUBLING CASES
Lawmakers are now investigating whether the rush to retrieve organs has crossed ethical lines. The New York Times looked at these troubling cases:
Kentucky: Anthony Thomas Hoover woke up as doctors prepared to remove his organs in 2021. He is still alive.
Alabama: Misty Hawkins choked on a sandwich and was declared dead after 103 minutes off life support — but her heart was still beating and she was breathing when surgeons began cutting. They stopped, and her organs were not taken. She died shortly after.
New Mexico: A woman began regaining consciousness during donation prep and later fully recovered.
Florida: A man cried and bit his breathing tube — but was still removed from life support.
West Virginia: Doctors were stunned when coordinators asked a paralyzed man just coming off sedatives for organ donation consent.
During Tuesday’s House hearing on U.S. organ procurement, Rep. John Joyce (R-PA) pressed Dr. Raymond Lynch, chief of the Organ Transplant Branch at the Health Resources and Services Administration, on whether these cases violated protocols.
Dr. Lynch emphasized that signs of life should stop the organ procurement process, but also said that DCD requires careful evaluation to ensure patients who might recover are not subjected to harm.