Most would agree that organ donation is a worthwhile endeavor. While there are times that someone who is living may decide to donate an organ that they have no need for, such as a kidney, most organ donations in Pennsylvania, as well as other states, involve a donor who is brain dead and being kept alive via machines so that his or organs can be harvested and implanted in the person who is ailing. Most wouldn't even think about the possibility of organs being taken from someone who is still alive and in need of them to survive.

This apparently nearly happened in a neighboring state several years ago however. The 41-year-old woman involved in the incident reportedly was at the hospital after suffering a drug overdose. As a result of her condition she was put on life support. Eventually, doctors tending to her indicated to her family that she was dead and the decision was made to take her off life support and donate her organs. It was as she was being prepared for surgery in the operating room to remove those organs that it was determined that she was in fact, not dead. She apparently opened her eyes.

After the incident an investigation was commenced to determine why signs that the woman was still alive were ignored by the doctors who were provided information regarding the matter. In addition to failing to acknowledge that she was moving her tongue and lips, trying to breathe on her own and reacted to a reflex tests, the investigation determined the hospital did not:

• Perform a sufficient number of brain scans
• Treat the woman to keep the drugs from being absorbed
• Perform tests that would indicate whether her system was free of drugs

Despite the fact that the woman was mother to three children, after she recovered and was discharged from the hospital, they did not file a medical malpractice lawsuit. They were apparently too stunned by the events to do so. Other families may have opted to go ahead with such a lawsuit.

Source: Modern Healthcare, "N.Y. hospital nearly took organs from living woman," Associated Press, July 7, 2013