Following accusations of organ harvesting and medical negligence by Black parents who lost their son, Terrance “T” Howard, a medical facility in North Carolina has issued a response.
Howard, a 19-year-old athlete, died on Thursday after battling serious injuries sustained when he was struck by a vehicle on a highway over a week earlier. His parents expressed dissatisfaction with how Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte handled his treatment.
Bishop Anthony Allen, Howard’s father, posted several videos online, criticizing the hospital staff for what he described as their failure to fulfill their duties. He alleged that they did not do everything possible to save his son.
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Allen provided details of the incident, explaining that his son had been driving to North Carolina Central University after transferring from the University of Alabama. According to Allen, Howard had stopped to assist a driver involved in an accident when he was tragically struck from behind by another vehicle, propelling him about 30 feet. Howard landed on his head, sustaining critical injuries.
Allen, knowing his son’s character, said he had no doubt that Howard had stopped to help because he was always eager to assist others in need. “He stopped and rendered aid because that’s the kind of person he is,” Allen said. “Terrance was injured while trying to be a good citizen.”
Doctors later declared Howard “brain dead” and placed him on life support. The family prayed for a miracle, hoping that “everything that’s been wronged will be right.”
Describing his son as a good person, Allen attributed the incident to “the work of darkness” rather than “the work of God.” He further accused the hospital staff of turning off Howard’s life support, showing footage of blank digital screens attached to his son’s bed.
Howard’s parents also posted separate videos from his hospital room, with his mother making serious accusations against the hospital, claiming they wanted to harvest her son’s organs. She alleged that the hospital’s intent was “to kill my son because they want his organs,” and accused doctors of “snickering and laughing” while refusing to help.
“They want his organs,” Howard’s mother insisted. “That’s what they told me in the beginning.”
The family expressed anger over how hospital authorities and security officers handled the situation, sharing a video showing multiple police officers entering Howard’s hospital room and threatening to arrest them for trespassing if they did not leave.
In response to these accusations, the hospital issued a statement:
“As you know, federal privacy laws are very strict and do not permit us to address specific questions. What we can tell you unequivocally is that our medical professionals are among the best in the nation and take every reasonable measure to protect and preserve the life and health of those in our care at all times.
We extend our deepest sympathies in every tragic situation facing patients and their family members as they struggle with their personal circumstances. We also make it our practice to provide honest assessments about each patient’s health when communicating with family members and help them understand and explore appropriate care options for their loved ones,” Atrium Health told NewsOne on Sunday.
However, the hospital did not address the accusations of organ harvesting, the involvement of security officers, or the family’s claims of harassment by those officers.
