Organ Donations See Sharp Decline After Reports of 'Dead' Man Waking Up on Operating Table

Organ donations are experiencing a significant decline after a Kentucky man was mistakenly declared dead before an organ retrieval attempt,

In 2021, Thomas TJ Hoover II was officially declared brain dead after a drug overdose, but he unexpectedly showed signs of life while being prepped for organ donation, AP reported.

The incident was brought back to the public eye last month during a recent congressional hearing, leading to investigations into the protocols surrounding death declarations in organ donation.

Following Hoover's case, a dramatic rise in people revoking their organ donor registrations has been noted. Reports indicate that a tenfold rise in opt-outs are being seen in the U.S. and abroad, as reported by AP.

Donate Life America saw 170 people per day revoke their organ donation status in the week after the 2021 case was publicized. This is 10 times more than last year.

In response to the sharp decline, the federal agency overseeing organ transplants in the U.S. has launched an investigation, with state authorities reviewing Hoover's incident.