Kentucky organ donor 'comes back to life and thrashes as surgeons prepare to harvest his body parts'

A transplant donor woke up crying on the operating table as doctors were readying to take out his heart, witnesses claim.

Thomas TJ Hoover II, 36, was declared brain dead following a drug overdose before suddenly showing signs of life on the operating table as doctors prepared to harvest his organs at Baptist Health Richmond Hospital in Kentucky in 2021. As medical staff began the procedure to test his heart for transplantation, Hoover unexpectedly started moving, leaving surgeons stunned.

According to Nyckoletta Martin, an organ preservationist, "The donor had woken up during his procedure that morning for a cardiac catheterization. And he was thrashing around on the table."

Despite this, doctors allegedly sedated Hoover and continued with plans to recover his organs. His sister, Donna Rhorer, had earlier expressed concern when Hoover appeared to open his eyes and look around while being transported to the operating room, but was told it was just a reflex.

However, Rhorer believes it was her brother's way of signaling that he was still alive, saying, "It was like it was his way of letting us know, you know, 'Hey, I'm still here.'" Hoover, who was on the operating table for organ removal, began to move and cry, prompting surgeons to halt the transplant.

Natasha Miller, another doctor present, disclosed a chilling detail: she claimed that when her colleague contacted KODA—the company coordinating the transplant—the supervisor insisted they proceed with the operation and advised the hospital to "find another doctor" if necessary.

Miller recounted the turmoil, saying, "It was very chaotic. Everyone was just very upset.", reports the Express US . The organ retrieval was ultimately called off, but not without causing several staff members to resign due to the distressing experience. Some, including Martin, sought therapy following the ordeal.

Now acting as a whistleblower, Martin has reported the incident to the House Energy and Commerce Committee during an inquiry into organ procurement organizations. She expressed her alarm: "It's very scary to me now that these things are allowed to happen, and there's not more in place to protect donors."

Despite the claims, KODA refutes the allegations, maintaining that their actions have been misconstrued. Julie Bergen, at the helm of Network for Hope following a merger between KODA and LifeCenter Organ Donation Network, has denied allegations regarding unethical organ collection practices.

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Speaking to NPR, she said: "No one at KODA has ever been pressured to collect organs from any living patient" and emphasized, "KODA does not recover organs from living patients. KODA has never pressured its team members to do so." Baptist Health Richmond added: "We work closely with our patients and their families to ensure our patient's wishes for organ donation are followed."

Amidst concerns that whistleblower accounts like Martin's could deter potential organ donors, the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations released an open letter highlighting the positive trend in organ donations, noting: "Ignored is the fact that there have been 13 years of consistent growth in organ donation by OPOs, leading to a record 43,000 organs transplanted and lives saved through deceased donation last year."

The chilling case involving Hoover, who narrowly escaped death in 2021, is now under the scrutiny of The Kentucky Attorney General and US Health Services Resources Administration. Post-incident, Hoover, who now struggles with memory, walking, and talking, is under the guardianship of his sister Rhorer.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Rhorer expressed her sense of betrayal: "I feel betrayed by the fact that the people that were telling us he was brain dead, and then he wakes up. They are trying to play God. They're almost, you know, picking and choosing - they're going to take this person to save these people."