The Trump administration is moving to decertify Network for Hope, a Kentucky-based organ procurement organization, citing persistent safety failures. Allegations include plans to retrieve organs from patients who showed signs of life, which the group denies.
The action highlights concerns over patient safety in organ donation processes and could impact the availability of organs for transplantation in the U.S.
The Trump administration has announced its intention to decertify the Network for Hope, a Kentucky-based organ procurement organization (OPO), citing persistent safety failures. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. described the nonprofit as "a bad apple" and detailed allegations that the organization proceeded with plans to retrieve organs from patients who exhibited signs of life.
These incidents, though some occurred years ago, previously led to a national increase in individuals revoking their organ donor registrations. Network for Hope, one of approximately 55 OPOs in the U.S. responsible for coordinating organ recovery and matching donors to transplant recipients, has stated it strongly disagrees with the decision and intends to appeal.
Among the specific allegations is a 2021 incident where Network for Hope's predecessor organization allegedly pressured a hospital to proceed with withdrawing life support and retrieving organs from a man who showed signs of waking up from a drug overdose. The man survived, and his sister was present at the press briefing where the announcement was made.
OPOs are not authorized to declare death; that determination is made by hospital doctors. Donation agencies can only take responsibility for deceased individuals after this declaration. While most donations come from brain-dead patients, donations can also occur after life support is withdrawn following a family's decision.
In its defense, Network for Hope asserts compliance with all federal organ policies. The organization also highlighted a new safeguard it implemented over a year ago, allowing health professionals or family members to pause donation planning if concerns arise about a patient's suitability. Kentucky has recently enacted a law mandating such pauses, and federal regulators are developing new rules for all OPOs.
Thousands of people die annually while waiting for organ transplants, with over 100,000 currently on the U.S. transplant list, primarily for kidneys. Despite a slight decrease in deceased donations, a record number of over 49,000 transplants were performed last year.