A medical facility’s organ donation unit allegedly pressed for harvesting organs from a comatose patient, despite her showing signs of being responsive, according to healthcare staff.In 2022, Danella Gallegos, a 38-year-old unhoused individual, entered a comatose state. Medical professionals informed her family about the unlikelihood of her recovery. After her family consented to organ donation, they noticed tears forming in Danella’s eyes during pre-operative procedures, as reported to The New York Times.Staff at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque observed her responding to commands to blink her eyes, causing astonishment among the medical team.Reports suggest that New Mexico Donor Services representatives insisted on proceeding with the operation, dismissing the patient’s responses as mere reflexes.The medical team refused to comply with the coordinator’s request and cancelled the surgery. Subsequently, Danella achieved complete recovery.Danella has filed a complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services, telling The Times: “I feel so fortunate. But it’s also crazy to think how close things came to ending differently.”A Presbyterian Hospital intensive care nurse stated: “All they care about is getting organs.”The donation organisation rejected the hospital staff’s allegations, emphasising that coordinators do not influence medical decisions.Requests for response have been sent to New Mexico Donor Services and the Department of Health and Human Services.Current statistics show 103,200 individuals await organ transplants, with 13 daily fatalities during waiting. Each donor potentially saves eight lives and benefits 75 others.Organ procurement organisations facilitate the process between donors, recipients and medical professionals for transplant matching.New Mexico Donor Services stated its mission of serving two million state residents by coordinating organ and tissue donations with recipients.The Times investigation revealed some procurement organisations expedite procedures, including approaching families before life support termination decisions.Time constraints for viable organs and administrative pressure have increased ‘donation after circulatory death’ procedures, comprising one-third of donations last year.These cases differ from brain-dead donors, as patients retain some brain activity while comatose on life support. Doctors must confirm cardiac cessation within two hours after removing life support for viable organ procurement.
