Keith Lott organ donation dispute highlights New Jersey consent issues

Keith Lott, a 47‑year‑old man, suffered a fatal heart attack while having sex with his wife in Swedesboro, New Jersey, and was declared brain‑dead at Cooper University Hospital. Within an hour, the NJ Sharing Network, the state’s organ‑procurement organization, arrived to claim his body for organ harvesting.

Lott’s family says he had revoked his donor status after converting to Islam in 2023 and presented a 2025 driver’s licence showing he opted out, but the organ‑procurement group cited an earlier 2021 licence where he had checked the donor box, treating it as a permanent commitment. The family alleged the network threatened legal action to keep the body, while hospital staff hesitated to disconnect life support without clear consent.

State Senator Paul Moriarty intervened, confirming the donor database had been updated to reflect Lott’s revocation. Following the senator’s involvement, the NJ Sharing Network released the body to the family for burial. The case has spurred a legislative proposal requiring organ‑procurement agencies to verify the most current donor information before proceeding.