US moves to shut Kentucky organ donation nonprofit over safety failures

The U.S. Health Secretary announced that the federal government will begin the process to decertify Network for Hope, a Kentucky-based organ procurement organization, after allegations of safety lapses.

The agency says the nonprofit continued plans to retrieve organs from a patient who showed signs of waking after a drug overdose, despite hospital staff’s concerns. The patient survived, and the incident drew national attention.

Network for Hope, one of roughly 55 OPOs that match donated organs to transplant candidates, said it strongly disagrees with the decision and will appeal the shutdown. The move has revived public scrutiny of organ donation practices.