The scarcity of available organs for transplant in the United States – and the increasing need for more – is putting a growing number of donors at risk, reports NKTV.
Numerous cases have been reported of people waking up within minutes of having their organs harvested, most of them going on to survive, although some have not.
A recent investigation is probing a 2022 case, when a homeless American woman, Danella Gallegos (38), fell into a coma after an unspecified medical emergency at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Doctors told her family she was unlikely to recover, leading them to agree to organ donation through New Mexico Donor Services, The New York Times reported.
As preparations for the organ retrieval surgery began, her family noticed tears in her eyes, which donation co-ordinators dismissed as mere reflexes.
On the day of the procedure, one of her sisters observed movement, so a doctor asked Gallegos to blink – which she did, indicating she was still alive.
Despite this, however, co-ordinators allegedly pressured hospital staff to proceed, suggesting morphine to reduce movement.
Fortunately, the doctors refused and stopped the surgery, a decision that saved Gallegos’ life. She went on to make a full recovery.
She later filed a complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services, prompting an investigation into the incident.
Presbyterian Hospital stated that New Mexico Donor Services was responsible for the donation process, while the organisation denied interfering with medical decisions.
A similar case happened in Kentucky in October 2021, involving Thomas ‘TJ’ Hoover, who after a drug overdose, was declared brain dead and scheduled for organ donation.
However, a staff member noticed him thrashing and crying visibly before the operation. Despite him showing signs of life, Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) allegedly pushed to proceed, which the company denied. Like Gallegos, Hoover eventually recovered.
Misty Hawkins (42), was another case where life support was removed before organ removal. However, when doctors operated, they found her heart still beating. Unfortunately, she didn’t survive.
NDTV article – US Woman Wakes Up From Coma Moments Before Organ Donation Surgery (Open access)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Major reform after shoddy practices of US organ transplant companies exposed
Patients’ alertness ignored in quest to harvest organs, finds US probe
‘Brain dead’ US man awakens during organ harvesting