The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has initiated the decertification of Network for Hope, the federally designated organ procurement organization serving Kentucky and surrounding areas, following federal investigations that uncovered serious patient safety failures. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services began the action after reviews revealed instances where the organ harvesting process was reportedly initiated on patients who still showed signs of life.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that the department is addressing "horror stories about the dark corners of organ harvesting." He affirmed strong support for ethical organ donation, drawing on personal family experience after his nephew saved lives as a donor.
HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration examined 351 cases at Network for Hope between 2021 and 2024 where organ donation was authorized but not completed. The review identified 103 cases with concerning features, including 73 patients with what HHS described as "neurological signs incompatible with organ donation."
According to federal officials, investigators found evidence of inadequate neurological assessments, poor coordination with hospital care teams, questionable consent practices, and improper classification of causes of death. The investigation revealed that the nonprofit allegedly pressured medical personnel to proceed with organ procurement despite patients showing active signs of life and neurological function. "Thirty percent of the procedures that they were performing had something wrong with them," a doctor noted.
Network for Hope's chief executive officer has stated that the organization plans to appeal the federal decision, maintaining that it remains fully compliant with organ procurement and transportation network policies. Despite the agency's findings, Secretary Kennedy emphasized that he strongly supports organ donation when conducted ethically and properly.