US launches investigation after attempt to harvest organs from living donor
The Kentucky Attorney General's office has begun reviewing cases of botched organ donations.
Hospital staff informed the family that the donor's heart had stopped.
However, an hour after the start of the operation, doctors confirmed that the donor had woken up, Fox News reports.
He began to show obvious signs of activity, which forced doctors to stop the operation.
The donor regained consciousness during preparation for heart removal.
The family was eventually informed that activity had also been detected during a cardiac catheterization procedure.
The hospital checked which of the donor's organs would be suitable for donation and held a ceremony in his honor.
However, during the procedures to prepare for the heart removal, the donor suddenly showed signs of life.
This is not an isolated case, according to Seth Karp, chief of surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
At a hearing before a US Congressional committee, he said that questions often arise about whether a donor has died.
The Kentucky Attorney General's Office said it was reviewing the case.
