The Hidden Crisis in Organ Transplantation — Brain Death Diagnosis and Ethical Failures

Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

• The concept of "brain death," introduced in 1968 to enable organ harvesting, has never been proven equivalent to actual death — it merely defines an irreversible coma
• Documented cases exist of "brain dead" patients who were conscious, including some who mouthed "help me" as their organs were nearly harvested
• Global organ shortages have fueled a black market, with an estimated 5% to 20% of transplants involving illegal procurement and added pressure to lower diagnostic standards for “brain death”
• Recent federal investigations found serious failures in the U.S. organ donation system: 29.3% of reviewed cases showed troubling signs, and 20.8% of patients had neurologic activity incompatible with procurement — yet transplant coordinators still pushed to proceed
• Safer, ethical alternatives exist — such as natural therapies like DMSO that have revived “brain dead” patients and restored organ function, removing the need for transplant