"Cried and Struggled"... Brain-Dead Patient Awakens Just Before Organ Removal

Awakening Before Organ Removal After Brain Death Diagnosis
Survivor Organ Removal Controversy... Authorities Conducting Investigation

A story has emerged from the United States about a patient who was declared brain dead but woke up just before organ removal. This has raised suspicions that the hospital may have attempted to harvest organs from a living person.

On the 18th (local time), the British Daily Mail reported the story of Thomas TJ Hoover II, a 36-year-old man who was declared brain dead in October 2021 due to a drug overdose but later revived.

Hoover was transferred to Baptist Health Richmond Hospital in Kentucky, where he was declared brain dead, and organ donation procedures were initiated.

However, staff who were on duty at the time testified that while surgeons were preparing to remove his organs, Hoover appeared to be struggling on the operating table in terror, as if he were still alive.

Former staff members Nicoletta Martin and Natasha Miller, who were present at the scene, claimed, “While the surgeons were preparing for the organ removal surgery, Hoover started moving around and was clearly crying.”

Thomas TJ Hoover miraculously survived just before an organ removal surgery.
[Image source=U.S. public radio NPR, UK daily The Sun, etc.]

Hoover’s younger sister, Donna Laura, also said, “When Hoover was moved from the ICU to the operating room, it seemed like he opened his eyes and looked around,” adding, “It was as if he was trying to tell us, ‘I am still alive.’” However, Hoover’s family, including her, thought this was merely a reflexive response.

Eventually, the surgery was halted and ultimately canceled only after Hoover began struggling and crying.

This has led to suspicions that the hospital attempted organ removal despite Hoover still being alive. According to the claims of staff who worked at the time, the brain death declaration was made only after the surgeon who was to perform the organ removal arrived.

Additionally, it was revealed that after the organ removal was canceled, the Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates told the hospital during a phone call, “Since this case will proceed anyway, look for another doctor.”

Following this incident, some hospital staff resigned due to mental trauma, and Martin later became a whistleblower by submitting a letter about the case to a U.S. House of Representatives hearing on organ procurement. Martin said, “It is frightening that such things can happen and that there are not enough safeguards to protect organ donors.”

However, a representative from Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates firmly stated, “No one was ever asked to remove organs from a living patient.” The hospital also stated, “We prioritize patient safety above all else.”

Ultimately, the Kentucky Attorney General and the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) launched an investigation into the incident. Dr. Robert Truog of Harvard Medical School’s Center for Bioethics said, “A proper investigation must be conducted to ensure that such an incident never happens again.”