Title should be: Family of Homicide Victim Inappropriately Pressured to Donate

[Clark]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/19/nyregion/organs-of-brooklyn-2-year-old-will-not-be-donated.html?_r=0

Father Prevails, Halting the Donation of His Brain-Dead Daughter's Organs
By STEPHANIE CLIFFORD

Thaiya Spruill-Smith, the victim of an assault to which her stepfather has confessed, was declared brain-dead on Friday but had been kept on life support as her parents argued over whether her organs should be donated.

...

On Tuesday morning, before the court hearing, Mr. Hernandez expressed concern that donating Thaiya's organs could compromise a criminal investigation against the girl's stepfather, David Adams.

"What is the motive of the mom suddenly being so gracious, to say, 'We'll give these organs away'?" he asked.

...

Mr. Adams, 25, admitted to violently shaking Thaiya, and doctors said the bleeding and excess fluid in her brain were consistent with shaking. He is charged with assault, and the Brooklyn district attorney expected to upgrade the charges to murder if the medical examiner ruled the death is a homicide.

A spokesman for Brookdale, Khari Edwards, said the hospital was not aware of any decision from the parents. "We are just a facilitator; whatever is worked out between the two parents" is what the hospital will do, he said.

Mr. Hernandez said Thaiya would soon be taken off life support.

Anemona Hartocollis and Nate Schweber contributed reporting.