Calls for HHS to Strip Certification from Faulty Organ Procurement Groups
The Health and Human Services department plans to decertify a regional organ procurement organization after investigations revealed dozens of cases where organs were taken from patients who were still alive.
The Department of Health and Human Services announced a move to withdraw certification from an organ procurement organization that operates in Kentucky and adjacent regions, following a federal investigation that identified 103 concerning cases out of 351 authorized donations from 2021 to 2024. Among those, 73 patients displayed neurological findings that should have led to earlier cessation of organ recovery, suggesting organs were removed while patients were still alive.
A separate report described an Alabama surgery where a patient’s heart continued beating during organ extraction. The piece argues that pressure to increase transplant numbers may be driving such dangerous practices and calls for HHS to fully enforce its revocation powers. It also cautions against a New England Journal of Medicine proposal to permit organ removal under anesthesia, linking it to assisted-suicide laws and warning of risks to vulnerable patients. The author, a former National Council on Disability member, supports stricter oversight to restore public confidence in donation.
Why it matters
Ensuring organ donation respects patients' rights prevents abuse and maintains trust in the medical system.
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