Trump administration to close Miami organ donation group it calls ‘failing’
Washington – The Trump administration moved Thursday to close a group of Miami organ donations, the appellant “fail” due to the underperformance, dangerous practices and paperwork errors.
The Life Alliance Organé Recovery Agency is one of the 55 organisms of organ organizations, or OPOS, non -profit agencies across the country which coordinate the recovery of the organs of deceased donors and help to associate them with patients on the waiting list of transplantation of the country.
The administration cited an investigation which revealed a case in 2024 where an undeveloped error led a surgeon to refuse a given heart for a patient awaiting surgery.
In a press briefing, Dr. Mehmet Oz, who directs the centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said that the problems included potential donations that are not submitted, sending organs given to the wrong place and a lack of staff.
Life Alliance, a division of the health system from the University of Miami, can appeal the decision. If it is closed, it would mark the first time that the federal government has awarded an OPO.
Life Alliance did not immediately respond to a request for comments.
More than 100,000 Americans are on the transplantation list and thousands of people die pending because there are not enough donations to go around. Last year, there were more than 48,000 transplants, a record, the vast majority of donors who died.
Changes in the transplant system have been underway for years to increase donations, reduce potentially usable organ waste and respond to other concerns. They include new guarantees after complaints last year that another OPO did not stop donation preparations fairly quickly when some patients showed signs of life, which has prompted some people to withdraw from donor registers. Organ donation can only take place after a hospital has declared a deceased person – and by law, OPOS cannot be involved in this decision.
On Thursday, Oz sought to reassure potential donors.
“The Congress continued in a thoughtful and aggressive way of horrible stories that have cooled the enthusiasm of certain Americans for having given organs. We are here today to tell you that this system is safe. It is rigorously discussed,” he said, adding later, “I want to applaud the OPOs who do a great job because most are.”
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