WASHINGTON — National Right to Life commends Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) for taking the extraordinary step of decertifying a troubled organ procurement organization in South Florida after years of alleged serious deficiencies.

“Every human life has dignity, and no institution entrusted with human lives should ever put that trust at risk,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Protecting life extends to every stage of life and especially to our most vulnerable. We are grateful to Secretary Kennedy for demonstrating leadership and integrity on an issue of such moral importance.” 

Secretary Kennedy’s actions follow a report by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) that HHS released in July. HRSA reviewed 351 cases where the organ donation was “authorized, but ultimately not completed,” and found 73 patients exhibited neurological activity and at least 28 cases where organ retrieval began before legal death was established.

A July 20 New York Times report highlighted cases under donation‑after‑circulatory‑death (DCD), in which patients appeared to have regained consciousness while being prepared for organ harvest—even undergoing incision—before procedures were halted.

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of affiliates in each of the 50 states, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.