The man who had been declared brain dead woke up while his organs were being removed.

The incident that occurred at Baptist Health Richmond Hospital in Kentucky in 2021, documented with newly emerged footage, shook the U.S. healthcare system. Thomas 'TJ' Hoover II, a 36-year-old man who was hospitalized due to an overdose, was declared brain dead, and his family consented to organ donation.

During an "honor walk" organized for organ donors at the hospital, Hoover opened his eyes and looked around, which alarmed his family. Doctors assured the family that it was merely a reflex. However, in the operating room, as surgeons prepared to harvest the organs, Hoover began to move and cry.

According to former hospital employee Nyckoletta Martin, despite the situation being reported, the organ transplant coordination center KODA insisted that the surgery continue. The operation was canceled at the last moment.

Many staff members resigned following the incident. Hoover survived but is experiencing memory, walking, and speaking issues. His sister, Donna Rhorer, has taken on the role of legal guardian for his care.

While the hospital administration and KODA deny the allegations, the Kentucky Attorney General's Office and the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration are investigating the incident. The case highlights the inadequacies in the controls of the organ donation processes and indicates that the oversight mechanisms in the healthcare system need to be reviewed.