US organ donation organization faces shutdown after living patient nearly loses organs

The U.S. Department of Health has moved to revoke the certification of an organ procurement organization following allegations that it attempted to recover organs from a man who was still alive.

The case dates back to 2021, when Anthony Thomas Hoover II, a Kentucky man in his thirties, was taken to surgery for organ harvesting after a drug overdose left him unresponsive for two days. His family had consented to donation, believing he would not recover. However, as the procedure approached, Hoover reportedly began showing clear signs of consciousness, which staff from the organization allegedly dismissed.

According to reports, the organization’s predecessor, KODA, pressured hospital personnel to proceed with the donation. When Hoover arrived in the operating room visibly responsive, the surgeons declined to continue and refused to withdraw life support. One worker, Natasha Miller, told NPR that a KODA supervisor was on the phone demanding they find another surgeon willing to perform the retrieval. The operation was ultimately canceled, and Hoover survived, though he suffered lasting neurological damage.

At a press briefing on Wednesday, Hoover’s sister spoke publicly as the health department announced its efforts to decertify NFH, the organization in question. In response, NFH stated that it complies with all federal organ donation policies and that it has implemented a "pause" process since the incident. This process allows anyone involved in a case to halt donation plans if concerns arise. The state of Kentucky subsequently incorporated this pause process into law.

The case comes amid a significant demand for donated organs. Currently, over 103,000 people are on the U.S. organ transplant waiting list, while more than 49,000 transplants were performed last year.