Allegations Against the New Jersey Network Organ Procurement Organization
Families Deserve Answers When Loved Ones’ Final Wishes Are Not Honored
The House Committee on Ways and Means has launched a serious investigation into the New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network (NJ Sharing Network), revealing allegations that should concern every family who has entrusted their loved one’s care to medical professionals during life’s most difficult moments.
What Happened at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital
According to congressional investigators, a deeply troubling incident occurred at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden during the summer of 2025. The allegations center on a case where a patient who had been pronounced dead began showing signs of life—what the committee described as “reanimating” – during an organ recovery procedure.
Rather than immediately stopping the procedure, the organization’s president, Carolyn Welsh, allegedly instructed staff to continue with the organ procurement. Fortunately, hospital staff intervened and refused to comply, stopping the procedure to protect the patient.
Congressional investigators report that emails related to this case may have been deleted and the donor’s medical record potentially tampered with—actions that raise serious questions about transparency and accountability.
A Pattern of Concerning Practices
This incident is not isolated. The House Committee has heard testimony from a dozen whistleblowers who have come forward with additional allegations against NJ Sharing Network, including:
Violation of Patient Autonomy: Whistleblowers allege that the organization pressured families to consent to organ donation even when patients had previously revoked their organ donor status—a direct violation of a person’s clearly stated wishes.
Skipping Transplant Waiting Lists: Federal health records reportedly show that NJ Sharing Network allocated organs “out of sequence” approximately 25% of the time, bypassing patients who had been waiting for life-saving transplants. In one case, investigators found that skipping proper allocation procedures resulted in several deaths among those on the waiting list, with over 100 people who were bypassed still waiting for organs.
Questionable Financial Practices: A former staff member filed a lawsuit alleging that NJ Sharing Network collected organs that weren’t appropriate for transplants in order to generate additional Medicaid reimbursements.
Disposal of Research Organs: Allegations suggest organs designated for medical research were improperly disposed of rather than being used as intended.
Why This Matters to Families
When families make the difficult decision to donate a loved one’s organs, they trust that medical professionals will honor their wishes and treat their loved one with dignity during their final moments. These allegations represent a fundamental breach of that trust.
Organ donation is one of the most generous gifts a family can give during a time of profound grief. The decision requires faith that medical providers will:
- Accurately determine death before any procurement procedures begin
- Honor the deceased person’s documented wishes
- Follow established protocols and legal requirements
- Treat the deceased with respect and dignity
- Operate transparently and ethically
When these standards are not met, families may have legal recourse.
A National Problem
This investigation is part of a broader examination of organ procurement organizations across the country. In 2022, Senate investigators found that 70 people had died after receiving transplants because organ donation organizations failed to properly screen donated organs for cancer and other diseases.
Earlier this year, the Department of Health and Human Services found evidence that an organ procurement organization covering Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio had initiated organ recovery procedures on at least 28 patients who might not have been deceased.
These patterns suggest systemic issues that demand accountability and reform.
Protecting Families’ Rights
Families who have lost loved ones deserve to know that their wishes were honored and that proper protocols were followed. When organizations fail to meet these basic standards, the consequences extend far beyond policy violations—they represent a violation of human dignity during families’ most vulnerable moments.
If your family has concerns about the treatment of a loved one during organ donation procedures, or if you believe proper protocols were not followed at a hospital or funeral home, you have the right to seek answers.
Get Help From Experienced Legal Advocates
At Traction Law Group, we understand the unique challenges families face when dealing with potential negligence involving their loved ones’ final care. Our team has extensive experience investigating cases involving:
- Improper handling of deceased individuals
- Violation of documented end-of-life wishes
- Lack of informed consent
- Negligent or unethical practices by medical facilities
- Mishandling of remains
If you believe your loved one’s wishes were not honored, or if you have concerns about the care provided during organ donation or end-of-life procedures, we can help.
The congressional investigation into NJ Sharing Network continues, with the CEO required to respond to the committee by December 3, 2025. But families don’t have to wait for federal action to seek justice and accountability.
Contact Traction Law Group today for a confidential case review. Our compassionate legal team will listen to your concerns, investigate what happened, and help you understand your legal options. You deserve answers, and your loved one deserved dignity.
Call us or visit our website to schedule your free consultation. Let us help you hold negligent parties accountable and ensure that no other family experiences what yours has endured.
