Organ donor 'came back to life' and started thrashing around table while doctors prepared to remove his heart

Monday, October 22, 2024 - An organ donor woke up on the operating table as doctors prepared to harvest his heart.

Thomas ‘TJ’ Hoover II, 36, was rushed to Baptist Health Richmond Hospital in Kentucky after overdosing on drugs.

He was declared brain dead but when nurses wheeled him into theatre so doctors could test the health of his heart for harvesting, he suddenly came back to life.

Nyckoletta Martin, a former employee of Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) who later reviewed the case notes, said: "He was thrashing around on the table."

Speaking to NPR, she added: "That’s everybody’s worst nightmare, right? Being alive during surgery and knowing that someone is going to cut you open and take your body parts out.

"That’s horrifying."

Another KODA worker, Natasha Miller, described how Hoover appeared to show signs of life as he was being wheeled from the intensive care unit to the operating theatre.

She told NPR: "He was moving around – kind of thrashing. And then when we went over there, you could see he had tears coming down. He was crying visibly."

The disturbing scene shocked several of those present.

Even more frighteningly, according to Ms Miller, is that the coordinator for Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) callously demanded they "find another doctor to do it".

Speaking to NPR, she said: "So, the coordinator calls the supervisor at the time.

"And she was saying that he was telling her that she needed to 'find another doctor to do it' – that 'we were going to do this case. She needs to find someone else'."

Ms Martin told the outlet: "I’ve dedicated my entire life to organ donation and transplant.

"It’s very scary to me now that these things are allowed to happen and there’s not more in place to protect donors."

Julie Bergen, president and chief operating officer for Network for Hope – an organisation formed when KODA merged with the LifeCenter Organ Donation Network – denied the claims.

"No one at KODA has ever been pressured to collect organs from any living patient," she told NPR.

"KODA does not recover organs from living patients. KODA has never pressured its team members to do so."

Baptist Health Richmond also insisted "the safety of our patients is always our highest priority".

A spokesperson added: "We work closely with our patients and their families to ensure our patients’ wishes for organ donation are followed."

The Kentucky Attorney General and US Health Services Resources Administration are now investigating the alleged incident.

Hoover survived and is currently living with his sister, Donna Rhorer, who said he has had issues with his memory, walking and talking ever since, and revealed she is now his legal guardian.