Nycki Martin is a former surgical preservation coordinator with the Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA), the predecessor organization to Network for Hope — which has come under federal investigation over the 2021 case of TJ Hoover. After being declared brain dead, Hoover showed signs of waking up while being prepped for organ donation.
We have no way of knowing how many times organs may have been recovered from patients who would have otherwise lived.Nycki Martin, whistleblower formerly with Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates
Speaking this week to lawmakers in Washington, Martin alleged that the organization mishandled the case and attempted to keep the incident under wraps.
"After I came forward as a whistleblower, the Health Resources and Services Administration launched an investigation into my former employer. In just 89 days, there were 103 cases in which the organ donation process was initiated in error," she said. "What is even more frightening is that the investigation only examined cases in which the patient survived. We have no way of knowing how many times organs may have been recovered from patients who would have otherwise lived."
Critics like Martin are calling for the Network for Hope to be decertified, and for system-wide reforms.
"We can show the public we see the problems. We're working on them. The public should have more informed consent," Martin told the panel of lawmakers.
The Network for Hope says it has been cooperating with congressional requests, with CEO Barry Massa saying the organization "takes these matters very seriously" and that the group remains "committed to transparency and ongoing improvement efforts."
According to Massa, more than 2,100 people took their names off the organ donor list between September and December of last year. More than 1,000 reportedly removed their names in October of this year alone.