Comments on: Did Hospital Kill Teen For His Organs?

Suit By His Parents Claims Harvesting Began Before He Was Dead; Hospital, Transplant Group Deny It

[Brittany61493]

I agree with dis3221. My husband went to the hospital with pneumonia caused by a procedure that was done a few days earlier. When he was admitted he was taken off all of his medications, including his heart medicine. After 3 days of my calling all of his doctors & threatening the hospital they gave him his medicine again. They treated him like he was going to die of cancer so why bother? We had no diagnosis of any cancer but they ignored his problems until he developed other problems (which they blamed on the antibiotics for the pneumonia) and went into a coma. They didn't do anything but monitor him & keep telling me he was going to die. They removed his breathing tube after telling me that he was breathing on his own & would be "more comfortable" but never did ask for my consent. I was out of the room & he died alone. When I went back in the first thing that was asked of me is if I would donate any of his organs. Then the $180,000 they were paid to kill him wasn't enough, they turned me into collections for the remaining $2000 although I never did sign any financial responsibility form & in my state am not responsible for it. That's how kind & caring doctors & nurses are. They don't care about anything but the money.

[AlliLamb]

The life giving donation process begins at the time of death, after all efforts to save a patient?s life have failed.

Federal regulations require hospitals to notify their regional organ procurement organization (OPO) to evaluate patient deaths or imminent deaths for potential donation. (This is practiced across the nation!) A medical assessment is made to determine if donation is an option and a specially trained organ procurement organization (OPO) staff person will work with the hospital staff to discuss donation with the family. A review of the potential donor?s medical condition and history determine his or her medical donor eligibility.

After doctors inform the family that the patient has died, and it is determined there is potential for organ donation, a specially trained staff member will talk with the family about the opportunity to donate. With the quickness of a cardiac death, the family typically has either left or never made it to the hospital; therefore, the organ procurement organization staff person calls the family at home. This specially trained staff person will address the family's questions and obtain a medical and social history from the family before proceeding with a recovery. If the patient is at least 18 and has a signed donor card or a donor designation on his or her license, the staff person will talk with the family, but the family cannot override his or her decision. This is one of the reasons it is important to share with your family your wishes regarding donation. Once consent has been obtained, recovery will proceed.

After reviewing consent, the family will be asked for current medical information about the potential donor. It helps determine possible medical problems or social behavior that could put a transplant recipient at risk, and helps determine which organs and tissues may be transplanted

Meanwhile, an organ recovery coordinator assumes care of the donor. A thorough physical exam is conducted, and the patient?s body is maintained by artificial means and stabilized with fluids and medications. Tests are conducted to determine which organs are suitable for transplant. Medical information about the donor is sent to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) for matching with potential recipients.

The coordinator receives a list of possible ?matches? from UNOS, the agency that maintains the national transplant waiting list. The coordinator calls the transplant center for the patient at the top of the list for each organ. It is up to the patient?s transplant surgeon to accept the organ. If declined, the next patient?s surgeon is contacted. This process continues until all organs are placed with waiting recipients.

A team of organ transplant surgeons, SEPERATE from the doctors who treated the patient at the hospital, will perform the organ recovery. Organs will be recovered in a sterile operating room at the hospital where the individual died. The donor?s organs are removed in a surgical procedure that is extremely respectful of the nature of the gift that has been given. Most organs are taken directly to the recipients by the surgical recovery team.

Donation does not prevent the donor from having an open-casket viewing. One cannot tell that someone was a donor unless the family chooses to share the way in which its loved one helped others through donation.

About 10 days after the donation, the donor's family receives a letter from the Organ procurement organization. The letter explains how the donor helped others through organ and tissue donation. Names are not included in the letter. One full organ, tissue and corneal donor may help more than 50 people.

[cutieornurse]

When I saw this story, I was sick to my stomach. I have been a nurse for 10 years and stories like this one just disgust me. I do not think all doctors and nurses are perfect, far from it actually. My younger sister ended up brain dead from a medication overdose while in a CT hospital. If anyone was going to survive, it was surely going to be her, but that was not to be. Unlike many people out there who do not work in the medical field, I was able to look at all of her test results and see them for myself. I also insisted that I stay in the room with her while the tests to determine brain death were performed. I witnessed them myself and I knew exactly what was going on. There was no doubt in my mind that she was brain dead. What I do not understand is how the extremely strict protocols set forth by the organ procurement agencies (they are pretty much the same in every state that I have worked in) can be breached? They are so specific for the recovery of organs. I do not know both sides of the story in this case, and I am sure there is much more to the story than what is being published, but I do not understand how this could have occurred. My problems with this story are as follows: If there is a lawsuit going on, I am wondering how the parents of this child are even allowed to talk to the media at all right now with a case going on? Usually, parties involved in a lawsuit are required not to say anything until all is said and done, even then, there are confidentiality agreements. I do feel terrible for anyone that loses a loved one, especially a child, and I surely understand that they are grieving and will most likely never get over this loss, but there is something not right in this whole situation. People already have very strong opinions about organ donation and stories like this certainly hurt not only the process, but also hurt those families who have also endured the process. People told my mother that they were going to "kill your daughter for her organs", this is NOT true. I hope that the whole truth comes out about this case. Is it grief and guilt that is motivating these parents? I do not know. Their teenage son was on a snowboarding trip. Snowboarding, as with just about any sport, has its risks. The hospital did NOT cause their son's initial injury. While we see the news reports that advertise the people who do get their "miracles", there are hundreds of thousands of other people who DO NOT. Just because someone has brain stem function does NOT mean that they will ever recover. It just means that they could be in a coma and on a respirator for the rest of their life. I wonder what prompted these parents to take such a different stance on organ donation after their son's death? What made them think there was some wrongdoing in the first place? There is definitely more to this story and things are not adding up. I hope that the truth will come out, but somehow, unless the parents hear that someone "killed their kid for his organs", which will just fuel their guilt and anger for the rest of their lives, because that is what they believe, then they are never going to be satisfied. Whether there is wrongdoing here or not, the bottom line is that their son is gone, nothing can bring him back, and they have to find a way to move forward or this will ruin the rest of their lives. There is no winner in this situation!

[bubbly531]

As a mother of a 23 year old full time employed brain injuried son, yes I do wonder if the hospital pressed the issue. I am a nurse who was faced with an 18 year son whom had coded 3 times and had a glascow coma score of a 3. My son, I was told only hope in life was to save others through his death. They push hard and make you feel selfish that you can not give up on your own child. My husband was old school and said the Dr.'s know more than we do. Yes they know alot but they do not know someone elses kid.!!!! Life with a brain injured young man is CRAZY!! My son makes some not wise choices but I adore him and love every minute I have with him. I thank God I was selfish! God bless you and my heart aches for this terrrible trauma you have been through. Don't blame yourself!!!!

[opogirl]

First of all I am very sorry for the parents loss and what they are going through but it is very unfortunate and the story is very misrepresented. The story is very biased b/c it does not give the hospitals side or hop organ donation really works. A hospital or OPO would never hasten a persons death to become an organ donor, or persuade a family into making that decision. Their first and most important priority is and always will be to safe their patients. It is not untill after death has occured through brain declaration or all life saving efforts have been met that someone is even considered to be an organ donor. It sounds like this case was done as a DCD which is donation after cardiac death, when someone's prognosis is so poor they can not function on their own without being on a ventilator. Again no hosp member or OPO member will approach a family to withdraw support. This is the family's decision, and then only is organ donation brought up. There are very stringent rules when it comes to organ donation, and very strict guidelines to follow those rules. I hope this family can forgive themselves for whatever wrongdoing they or the hosp think they have done and instead see past that fact and realize that their son saved other peoples lifes. There are 100,000 people waiting for organs and 18 die everyday. Please remember that and I hope that those parents will never need an organ transplant b/c they will realize that the only flaw in the system is that not enough people are organ donors!

[hockeymom441]

As a physician, I've completed a number of brain death exams; by definition, you declare the person dead ("time of death") when they no longer have brain-stem function (zero chance of survival) for a period of time... however, if they are an organ donor - they are kept on a respirator until harvesting (which occurs asap b/c once brain dead, you become unstable). The fact that they parents thought otherwise is sad and unfortunate. It is a miscommunication I hope they can learn to understand; and grow to appreciate the great gift they gave countless people waiting on transplant lists. It's sad and pathetic that a lawyer and some "paid" experts will help sensationalize this story and scare people away from organ donation - rather than educate these poor parents about brain death and organ donation so that they can realize they did a wonderful thing and cast away their guilt.

[vc10pilot]

I've lived in two countries that have socialized health care. Am now living with Military health care. Social health care doesn't work well and it isn't free! Youir taxes support it fully as does a VA tax to all purchases. Doctors have their hands tied as to what they can do and there are age limits to procedures. When I gave birth in an Oxford hospital, it was filthy, I was told to clean my room before I left and had to bring my own sheets and sani tary items. I could go on and on but if you think for one minute this would solve things you are very wrong. Yes our health care needs some repair. But socialization will not do it. Ask yourself this, what country brings more advances in health care? The ones with socialization or the ones with privatization.

[ludvig1-2009]

Yeah, everyone is out for the bucks. Makes me cynical. Where is an honest man? Where is my lantern? My wifes regular dentist whom she has seen for years told her she was fine. We went to a specialist whom we gave $25K for a special procedure and he said she needed $1500 more of work done. We went back to my wife's regular dentist and she said that there are too many dentists in this area and their after the buck. They tell you that you need stuff done that you don't need done, and they are giving a bad name to the profession. Doctor or Shyster?

[sillyjoe103]

IF YOU THINK FOR ONE MINUTE THAT THIS FAMILY ID MAKING THIS UP AND NOT WANTING TO GRIEVE THEN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STAGE OF THERE DEAD CHILD AND ARE DOING THIS FOR MONEY YOur NUTS Arrogant rude, and have never been screwed by the system! I worked in the medical field and I can tell you off hand doc ext... think they are gods and can do anything. Just wait till it happens to you and no one believes you thats some food for thought HUH!!!

[recyclelife]

While sympathetic to the poor grieving parents, I wonder how many lives will be lost by giving creedence to urban legends.

[Autmn]

No one can say if someone will recover from a brain injury.My husband had a severe closed head injury and was on life support and was not to recover.I refused to sign to donate his organs when I was asked.After 2 months he came out of his coma and learned to do everything over and now 10 yrs later is working part time and drives all over.Drs say he recieved a miracle healing but that young boy could have also recieved one.My heart goes out to his family.As long as the person is sustaining life and is not brain dead don't be in a hurry to donate the organs.No matter what the drs say. They are not God.

[dls3221]

My dad was terminally sick for 5 years befoe dying in 1982. All I can say is that our family had wittnessed some very cold-hearted , unnecessary medical practices. Unfortunately, the real world is very different from the glamed-up Hollywood depictions of medical staff screaming and running around to save patients, then having sexy roundevous' every night; there's no such thing as Marcus Welby. My point is: I would not be the least surprised if this story of premature death is true. Just call me jaded.

[lisachamp]

It is my understanding that the patient has to be technically alive in order to obtain the organs, and that is why he was not pronounced until after the organs were harvested. Just because there is brain stem activity does not mean that the patient is alive. If people did not donate organs, others could not be helped. I hope these parents forgive themselves as they did nothing wrong (and neither did the hospital)

[erieite]

To afriendofthefamilygj ... I can absolutely understand where you're coming from. I ache for the parents of this boy, who -- whether right or wrong -- live with GUILT for allowing the hospital to take their son's organs. As a parent, I can only imagine the regrets they live with on a daily basis, and how they must blame themselves for giving in to pressure and (in their minds) giving the hospital permission to "kill" their son.
I truly don't think the hospital harvested his organs while he was alive -- but that doesn't make what the parents BELIEVE any easier to live with.
I truly hope they are able to heal from this eventually. As the mother of a son the same age as Gregory was, I feel for them deeply. God bless them.

[erieite]

As someone who is very familiar with the Hamot, the hospital in question, I, too, think the hospital did not kill the Jacobs' son. However, the paperwork that indicates that Greg Jacobs was declared dead 29 MINUTES AFTER his organs were harvested has GOT to cause a lot of pain to his parents -- because whether it's true or not, that is what they BELIEVE. I can't imagine the guilt and grief a parent would carry around, thinking (rightly or wrongly) that they gave a hospital carte blanche to take their child's organs, when the child was not dead ... AND had a chance at recovery. Can you imagine how that would eat you alive every day of your life? I feel so bad for these parents, who cannot heal from their son's death because they are blaming themselves for NOT protecting him, NOT saving him. I believe they die a little every day, thinking of the part THEY played in this situation. I hope at some point they can make peace with what happened at that hospital, and stop blaming themselves for not doing more for Greg.

[afriendofthefamilyGJ]

To all of you that think his family is just doing this for the money and because they are grieving:

OF COURSE THEY ARE GRIEVING! Is that why they are doing this, NO! Maybe they are doing this to get some kind of justice to recieve some kind of closure in their son's death. To those of us that had the pleasure of knowing Jake, we were blessed to have known him at all. He was always laughing, always smiling, and always making us smile. He was a terrific person.
It is obvious to those that live in Bellevue and know the family, that his father blames him self. I bet not a day goes by that he doesn't think of him. The guilt that this man carries with him is unbelievable. His parents minds are filled with 'what ifs'.
I do not think that they are doing this just for the money. But if they were, so what? Are they not entitled to that!? Jake does not even have a headstone! Its just a slab of concrete! A slab of concrete, to remember this kid that brought so much joy to everyone that knew him.
I know to everyone that does not know this family, it is easy for you to speak about things that do not concern you, things you will not lose sleep over.
Just think about if this was your child, or a friends child. How harsh would you be then?

Were you there at his showing and funeral? Because I was. Did you see him laying in that casket, wearing his faverite Quality Welding gear, not looking at all like the Jake that we knew? Did you watch the full grown men that worked with him carry his casket and weep? Bc I did. He was truly taken before his time. And NO I don't think it was DESTINY! Its greedy doctors and hospitals. The ones that you speak for and represent. You should be ashamed of your selves.

[DrMom7]

I can't blame this family for such a grief reaction. He is a beautiful boy that clearly had a wonderful future ahead of him. There is truly nothing more painful than the loss of a child!! I doubt with all my being that the hospital would have harvested his organs prior to his death. They have nothing to gain by doing such a thing. Unfortunately, this may deter others from organ donation that can save lives. Health care is a difficult field to be a part of...it is not the vast profits people believe it to be. It is expensive to be a part of the health system and the pay parallels that of a truck driver. It is emotionally draining constantly dealing with peoples pain, loss and threats of lawsuits. People do not go into healthcare for financial gain, there are much less stressful, more profitable ways to earn money. People go into medicine in hopes of making a difference and lessen others pain as much as humanly possible.

[gce651]

CT scans affordable?

I just went to the emergency room at Scottsdale Health Care for a kidney stone. For those of you who've never had one, it's excruciatingly painful. Nurses say it's the closest pain to childbirth.

I'm one of 48 million Americans without medical insurance.

After filling out paperwork for half an hour, I sat in an ER bed for about 3 hours total. During that time I had a CAT scan, saw a nurse 3X for a total of maybe 15 minutes, saw a doctor 2X for a total of maybe 10 minutes, had two 1L bags of IV fluid and a couple of injections of pain meds (morphine and Torredol).

The bill from the CAT scan was about $400.
The bill from the ER was $3500.

That's about $4000 for 3 hours light care and mostly waiting around.

The crazy thing is I'm already going through a medical bankruptcy of about $80K from something else unrelated from when I did have insurance. The insurance just refused to pay and left me hanging.

I would attempt to pay if I thought it was reasonable price, but it just isn't. It's like someone asking you to pay $100K for a $3K car, except that health care is a necessity, unlike a car.

I'm feeling less and less guilty about not paying every day.

[rhs648]

Yes this system needs to be fixed. How? Maybe looking into socialized medicine would be a good place to start. Putting caps on all medical professional salaries would be another good start.
Posted by mainewintahs

What has this got to do with the article? If there is an abuse, it can happen with any type of health system. Are organ donations going to stop if we adopt socialized medicine?

Everybody's out for a buck.