Foster Organ Harvest

November 25, 2008 permalink

Here is yet another hazard of foster care. When a California boy was injured in an accident, foster parents authorized removal of his organs even while the real family thought he had a chance of recovery.

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Organs donated from boy fatally injured in crash

By Mark Arner, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER, 11:15 p.m. November 24, 2008

The organs of a 16-year-old Otay Ranch High School student who was declared brain dead after a car crash Friday night have been removed for donation at his foster parents' request, despite opposition from his biological relatives.

Jason Spickerman and his 18-year-old brother, Daniel of Chula Vista, were in a car when a suspected drunken driver in a pickup crashed into them in Chula Vista about 11:30 p.m. Friday.

Daniel Spickerman died shortly after at a hospital. Jason was placed on life-support. The Medical Examiner's Office declared him brain dead Saturday afternoon. Another brother who was driving the car suffered minor injuries.

Jason Murguia, speaking on behalf of the foster parents, said in an e-mail Monday that Jason's organs were removed Sunday night and were donated to six people, including an infant.

“I know that this is what Jason would have wanted. Six lives were saved ” Murguia said.

Virginia Voss, Jason's aunt, said Monday that she and other relatives objected to the organ donations because they thought at the time that Jason might recover.

The 31-year-old driver of the pickup was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, felony hit-and-run and driving without a license.

Source: San Diego Union-Tribune