RFK Jr. and HHS just investigated our organ transplant system…
What they found is DISTURBING.
Some patients were still alive during organ removal.
Consent documents weren’t provided.
And the worst violations happened in our poorest hospitals.
“This is horrifying.”
Thread🧵
What they found is DISTURBING.
Some patients were still alive during organ removal.
Consent documents weren’t provided.
And the worst violations happened in our poorest hospitals.
“This is horrifying.”
Thread🧵
Make sure to bookmark this thread and follow @endtribalism for more updates!
Also — this one’s a bit more graphic than usual. Just a heads up.
Also — this one’s a bit more graphic than usual. Just a heads up.
Most Americans have no idea how broken our organ transplant system really is.
For years, doctors, whistleblowers, and ethicists have raised alarms—warning that some patients were declared dead too early, and organ procurement was happening without proper safeguards.
Outlets across the spectrum—including The New York Times—have exposed the dysfunction.
Just yesterday, the NYT reported cases where organ donors were still moving, gasping, or even crying out as surgeons began removing their organs—despite being declared dead under circulatory standards.
Earlier this year, the NYT also revealed that a major nonprofit in Ohio bypassed organ waitlist rules over 1,000 times, favoring certain hospitals and more advantaged patients.
But no HHS administration ever investigated—until now.
For years, doctors, whistleblowers, and ethicists have raised alarms—warning that some patients were declared dead too early, and organ procurement was happening without proper safeguards.
Outlets across the spectrum—including The New York Times—have exposed the dysfunction.
Just yesterday, the NYT reported cases where organ donors were still moving, gasping, or even crying out as surgeons began removing their organs—despite being declared dead under circulatory standards.
Earlier this year, the NYT also revealed that a major nonprofit in Ohio bypassed organ waitlist rules over 1,000 times, favoring certain hospitals and more advantaged patients.
But no HHS administration ever investigated—until now.
Under RFK Jr., HHS launched a federal review of 351 organ donation cases across Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio.
Nearly 30% had serious red flags—including at least 28 cases where patients may have still shown signs of life before organ removal.
Investigators found failures in brain death assessments, rushed procedures, and missing or improper consent documentation.
The worst violations occurred in rural and smaller hospitals, where oversight was weakest and protocols were often ignored.
Nearly 30% had serious red flags—including at least 28 cases where patients may have still shown signs of life before organ removal.
Investigators found failures in brain death assessments, rushed procedures, and missing or improper consent documentation.
The worst violations occurred in rural and smaller hospitals, where oversight was weakest and protocols were often ignored.
RFK Jr. called the findings “horrifying” and said the investigation showed that “hospitals allowed the organ procurement process to begin when patients showed signs of life.”
He emphasized that “every potential donor’s life must be treated with the sanctity it deserves” and pledged to hold organ procurement organizations accountable.
HHS is now mandating independent reviews of the groups involved, enforcing a five-minute observation rule following death, and requiring that hospital staff have the authority to halt any procedure they believe is unsafe.
Organ procurement organizations that fail to comply will be decertified.
We should all be glad RFK Jr. led this investigation and is taking action.
But we also need to ask:
How did the system become this corrupted—and how many people were willing to ignore basic human decency to keep it going?
He emphasized that “every potential donor’s life must be treated with the sanctity it deserves” and pledged to hold organ procurement organizations accountable.
HHS is now mandating independent reviews of the groups involved, enforcing a five-minute observation rule following death, and requiring that hospital staff have the authority to halt any procedure they believe is unsafe.
Organ procurement organizations that fail to comply will be decertified.
We should all be glad RFK Jr. led this investigation and is taking action.
But we also need to ask:
How did the system become this corrupted—and how many people were willing to ignore basic human decency to keep it going?
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