Latest news with #KODA
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Terrifying hospital loophole that allows doctors to remove your organs while you're still ALIVE
As Anthony Thomas 'TJ' Hoover II was wheeled into surgery to harvest his organs, his eyes flitted back and forth and began to open. Despite doctors declaring the 36-year-old dead, Hoover's brain was becoming more and more active- and as he was taken into the Kentucky operating room, he began thrashing on the bed and crying, patient records show, and was very much alive. Doctors halted the surgery only after arguing with the team responsible for procuring Hoover's organs, who wanted to continue anyway. Hoover's case prompted a years-long federal investigation into Kentucky's organ donation procurement nonprofit, whose team reportedly scrambled to find a surgeon willing to harvest the organs of a living man when the first surgeon backed out. The federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) investigation delved into about 350 cases involving Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) in which plans for organ retrievals were ultimately scrapped because declared-dead patients began waking up. In 73 cases, federal investigators found organ harvesting should have been stopped sooner as patients showed improving consciousness and signs of pain or distress, according to the New York Times. While most patients are deemed eligible to donate organs after being declared brain dead, these patients had experienced circulatory death - when the heart stops functioning and blood and oxygen no longer circulate in the body. Opponents of donation after circulatory death (DCD) argue the practice has looser criteria for declaring someone dead, leading to the potential for someone who is not definitively dead being taken off of life-sustaining measures for premature donation. DCD has been steadily becoming more common over the years, and involves recovering organs after the heart stops, though some brain activity may remain. Traditionally, most organ donations come from patients declared brain dead, the complete and irreversible loss of all brain function - though patients may be hooked up to machines that keep the heart and lungs working. Because heart and lung function is maintained with machines, organs remain viable for transplant. With circulatory death, death is declared when circulation and respiratory function has stopped - even though they haven't been declared brain dead. When hospitals identify patients nearing death who might be eligible donors, they notify organ procurement organizations (OPOs) such as KODA. An OPO representative then visits the hospital to assess whether the patient shows signs of imminent brain death. If brain death is unlikely but the patient cannot survive without life support and the family is considering withdrawing care, the case may be appropriate for DCD. In these situations, the OPO works closely with the family and medical team to coordinate end-of-life plans and organ donation. DCD helps increase the number of available donors, offering hope to more than 103,000 Americans waiting for life-saving heart, kidney, lung, and other organ transplants. But the practice has proven to be an ethical minefield. While organ procurement organizations like KODA insist they do not harvest organs from live patients, federal officials and activists say Hoover's case was not a one-off. DCDs have become increasingly common as a way to meet the needs of a growing number of people on national waiting lists. The number of organs recovered from DCD Donors in 1993 was 112. By 2021, over 10,000 recovered organs came from DCD donors. The federal inquiry into Kentucky's organ procurement practices began last fall when the House Energy and Commerce Committee learned of Hoover's experience. Hoover was rushed to the hospital after a drug overdose in October 2024. He was unresponsive in the hospital. For two days after Hoover's family agreed to donate his organs, KODA officers tested the man's organs and lined up transplant surgeons and recipients. During one exam on his heart, Hoover was 'thrashing on the bed,' according to patient records, and was sedated to prevent further motion. His sister, Donna Rhorer, remembered watching him being wheeled to the operating room as his eyes moved and tracked where his sister was, keeping his gaze in her direction. She and the rest of the family were told this was a common reflex. 'It was like it was his way of letting us know, you know, "Hey, I'm still here,'' Rhorer told NPR. The hospital staff 'was extremely uncomfortable with the amount of reflexes patient is exhibiting,' case notes read. 'Hospital staff kept stating that this was euthanasia.' A procurement organization coordinator assured them it was not. A former KODA employee told the New York Times that had it not been for that doctor who called off the procedure, 'we absolutely 1,000 percent would have moved forward.' Natasha Miller, who used to work for KODA as an organ preservationist, told NPR last year that, at the time, the organ procurement case coordinator was scrambling with her boss about what to do next as Hoover thrashed and cried. Miller said: 'So the coordinator calls the supervisor at the time. And she was saying that he was telling her that she needed to 'find another doctor to do it' – that, 'We were going to do this case. She needs to find someone else.' 'And she's like, 'There is no one else.' She's crying — the coordinator — because she's getting yelled at.' Three other former KODA employees have attested to seeing similar cases. Patients are typically taken to the operating room, where doctors remove them from life support and wait for the natural dying process to wrap up. The organs are only transplantable if the patient dies within an hour or two. Strict rules are in place barring any procedure from beginning before a patient dies. But the HRSA investigation, as reported by the Times, shows that KODA employees repeatedly pressured families to green-light organ harvesting, improperly took over cases from doctors, and tried to push hospital staff to pull patients from life support even amid indications that patients were becoming more aware of their surroundings. KODA employees also failed to recognize that hospital-administered sedatives or illegal drugs could mask a patient's actual neurological condition, making them appear in worse shape than they are. In another case, in December 2022, a 50-year-old man who had suffered an overdose began stirring in his bed less than an hour after being removed from life support. He woke up and started looking around. The retrieval attempt was not immediately scrapped nor was the patient given any explanation as to what was going on, 'but was becoming more aware by the minute,' a doctor's notes said. The attempt wasn't called off for another 40 minutes, the point at which his organs were no longer viable. In the ICU, he was awake and speaking with his family, though the patient died three days later. KODA, now Network for Hope after a merger, said it 'is disappointed in the New York Times story that declines to include factual clarifications and critical context about organ and tissue donation. 'Network for Hope remains committed to transparency and to the mission of saving lives. That commitment has not changed. The only people hurt by inaccuracies in journalism are those who are awaiting a second chance for life. 'Network for Hope is in full compliance with all requirements of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). We are fully committed to transparency and accountability to their regulations regarding Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD) donation.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Core Foundation, Bitcoin Layer 1 With Over $500M Staked BTC, Adds BitGo and KODA as Validators
It's raining institutional activity across all corners of the digital asset ecosystem. Core Foundation, which leverages Bitcoin's security and infrastructure to create a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) layer and a DeFi ecosystem, announced BitGo and KODA as validator sets for the Core network, marking a significant step forward in institutional adoption of Bitcoin-native DeFi. The onboarding of BitGo, a U.S.-qualified institutional-grade custodian and financial services company, brings a legacy of regulatory credibility and security-first principles to the validator set, now comprising 29 members, the press release shared exclusively with CoinDesk stated. Integrating with KODA, the South Korean institutional custodian powered by Nodeinfra, will expands Core's footprints in Asia. In Korea, over 20% of the population owns crypto, and KODA's presence on Core is expected to accelerate the latter's growth in staking and institutional yield in the region. "Adding BitGo and KODA as validators on Core marks a significant expansion of the validator set. These two leading custodians will further support Core's efforts to scale Bitcoin utility and drive institutional adoption of scalable Bitcoin yield products," Brendon Sedo, Core's initial contributor, said. Nodeinfra's CEO, John Youngseok Yang, stated that the strategic partnership will lay the groundwork for institutional BTC staking in Korea. The Core blockchain (CORE) is a scaling and programmability solution for Bitcoin powered by its Satoshi Plus consensus, a hybrid mechanism that allows BTC miners, BTC holders and CORE stakers to participate in consensus. It combines elements of Proof of Work and Proof of Stake to ensure security while maintaining scalability without compromising decentralization. As of writing, more than $500 million in BTC is staked with the network, supposedly secured by approximately 75% of the Bitcoin hashrate, making it the most Bitcoin-aligned Layer 1, according to the press release. Core powers institutional-grade products such as lstBTC, a liquid and yield-bearing representation of BTC that can be used as collateral across major exchanges, and Valour's Yield-Bearing BTC ETP, which provides regulated exposure to Bitcoin yield. Core is among the leading projects addressing the Bitcoin blockchain's limited programmability and lack of native yield to accelerate BTC DeFi. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
21-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
KODA Integrates with Bitcoin Staking Chain Core, Paving the Way for Increased Institutional Adoption in Korea
Seoul, South Korea, March 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KODA, the largest custody provider in South Korea, has integrated Core - Bitcoin's first Proof of Stake (PoS) layer and the largest Bitcoin DeFi ecosystem, making it the first Bitcoin scaling blockchain KODA supports. This development underscores the growing momentum of Bitcoin staking in a key crypto-active market. For years, Korea has been a powerhouse in crypto adoption. Korean exchanges see billions in daily volume, and the country's retail traders shape global price trends. And, now institutional interest and adoption in Korea are on the rise, with KODA establishing itself as the market leader. With this integration, users will gain access to CORE, the native token of the Core blockchain, while also contributing to the development of regulated Bitcoin staking services in the Korean market through KODA and Core as the regulatory landscape matures. Why This is Big KODA's integration means Core is now supported by the leading custodian in Korea. KODA, which already supports major blockchains like BNB Chain, Base, Polygon, and Solana, is now integrating its first Bitcoin-scaling chain. This marks a significant step forward in expanding Bitcoin DeFi in Korea, setting the stage for greater adoption and innovation in the space. 'KODA has established itself as a pioneer in the institutional space, bringing fully licensed and innovative solutions to institutions in Korea. We are excited to partner with such a trusted and forward-thinking company to introduce Core to the region—and, in time, unlock new opportunities for institutional Bitcoin yield. This collaboration marks an important step in expanding access to secure and scalable blockchain solutions for Korean institutions,' said Brendon Sedo, Initial contributor to Core 'As a leading provider of secure and trusted digital asset custody services for institutional investors in Korea, KODA is pleased to collaborate with Core to expand Bitcoin-based yield opportunities. This integration marks a significant milestone in enhancing Bitcoin's scalability and utility, enabling institutional investors in Korea to engage with Bitcoin in a more efficient and regulatory-compliant manner. KODA remains committed to providing innovative solutions that allow institutions to securely manage and utilize digital assets.' — Jin-seok Cho, CEO of Korea Digital Asset (KODA) Bitcoin Staking on the Horizon Core is built to unlock Bitcoin staking, something that was previously only possible through centralized platforms. Since launching the offering in April 2024, over 6,000 BTC have been staked with Core. With KODA's integration, Korean institutions will soon have the opportunity to explore Bitcoin yield powered by Core—directly, without relinquishing control of their BTC. What Comes Next? The integration is live, and Core is excited about its continued expansion in the Korean market Core is currently listed on Bithumb, allowing access to the local market to use CORE and access on chain products Preparing for potential regulation changes in the region that would enable institutions to access staking products with trusted custodians as the institutional on-ramp for Bitcoin yield in the region. Based on recent developments South Korea is preparing to relax its restrictions on crypto trading for institutional investors, signaling a potential significant shift in the country's approach to digital asset regulation. Although institutional investors are not explicitly banned, banks in Korea are restricted from opening crypto trading accounts on their behalf. This integration comes at a pivotal moment, as the country prepares to unlock institutional crypto investment with new guidelines due Q3. Core provides investors with a secure and sustainable way to earn yield on their Bitcoin securely. Industry leaders such as BitGo, Hashnote, Maple, and Copper have placed their trust in Core. Additionally, this development will expand access to lstBTC, the liquid staking, yield-bearing token launched on February 17th through a collaboration between Core and Maple. For a deeper dive into the state of Bitcoin staking and its growing adoption, read Core's latest report, BTC Yield for Institutions, by Reflexivity Research. About Core Core is a high-performance EVM Layer-1 blockchain secured by Bitcoin, unlocking institutional yield opportunities through Bitcoin staking. Bitcoin holders secure Core to earn CORE block rewards and transaction fees. In collaboration with top custodians and asset managers, Core enhances Bitcoin's capital efficiency and programmability. Core powers innovative products such as lstBTC, which enables Bitcoin holders to earn yield without sacrificing liquidity or security, Valour's yield-bearing BTC ETP. Currently ranked #15 in on-chain TVL and #9 in UAW, Core is also one of the fastest-growing blockchains and a leader in institutional Bitcoin innovation. Korea Digital Asset (KODA is a leading digital asset custodian in South Korea, providing custody services for institutional and corporate investors. KODA is backed by major shareholders, including KB Kookmin Bank (Korea's largest financial institution), Hashed (a blockchain-focused investment firm), Altos Ventures, and Samsung Asset Management (Korea's No.1 ETF manager). KODA ensures the highest level of security through cold wallet storage, multi-signature security, and internal controls equivalent to top-tier financial institutions, offering institutional investors a secure and reliable digital asset management solution.
