Kentucky Man Declared Brain-Dead Awakens During Organ Harvest

An American man, initially declared brain-dead after an overdose, unexpectedly regained consciousness as surgeons began an organ donation procedure.

Anthony Thomas 'TJ' Hoover, a 36-year-old from Kentucky, was initially declared brain-dead in October 2021 following a cardiac arrest due to an overdose.
His family had agreed to the organ donation process, unaware that Hoover would regain consciousness during the procedure.
Hoover's sister, Donna Rhorer, noticed signs of life, such as eye movements, but was assured by medical staff that these were mere reflexes.
An investigation by federal and state authorities is underway to understand how such a critical medical error occurred.
Experts describe the incident as extremely rare, raising concerns about its potential impact on public trust in organ donation systems.