Terrance “T” Howard, a North Carolina medical facility, has responded to claims of organ harvesting and medical incompetence made by Black parents who lost their kid.
Howard, a 19-year-old athlete, died on Thursday from major injuries sustained when he was hit by a car on a highway more than a week ago. His parents were dissatisfied with his treatment at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.
Howard’s father, Bishop Anthony Allen, released multiple videos online denouncing the medical staff for failing to carry out their duty. He said that they didn’t do all possible to save his son.
Allen described the incident, stating 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 engaged in an accident when he was tragically hit from behind by another vehicle, hurling him about 30 feet. Howard crashed on his head and sustained grave injuries.
Allen, knowing his son’s personality, said he had no doubt that Howard had stopped to help because he was always willing to help anyone in need. “He stopped and rendered aid because that’s the kind of person he is,” Allen told me. “Terrance was injured while trying to be a good citizen.”
Doctors later declared Howard “brain dead” and put him on life support. The family begged for a miracle, believing that “everything that’s been wronged will be right.”
Allen described his son as a good person and attributed the incident to “the work of darkness” rather than “the work of God.” He also accused the medical staff of shutting off Howard’s life support, displaying video of blank digital screens attached to his son’s bed.
Howard’s parents also recorded separate films from his hospital room, with his mother leveling severe claims against the hospital, claiming they wanted to steal his organs. She said that the hospital’s objective was “to kill my son because they want his organs,” and that doctors were “snickering and laughing” while refusing to help.
“They want his organs,” Howard’s mother maintained. “That’s what they told me in the beginning.”
The family voiced dissatisfaction with how hospital officials and security officers handled the issue, including a video of multiple police officers entering Howard’s hospital room and threatening to arrest them for trespassing if they did not leave.
In response to these allegations, the hospital made the following statement:
“As you are aware, federal privacy regulations are extremely tight, and we are unable to respond to particular questions. What we can say unequivocally is that our medical personnel are among the best in the country, and they take every possible precaution to protect and maintain the lives and health of individuals in their care at all times.
We send our heartfelt condolences in every unfortunate incident that patients and their families face as they deal with their unique situations. Atrium Health informed NewsOne on Sunday that they provide honest assessments of patients’ health and assist family members in exploring appropriate care options for their loved ones.
However, the hospital did not respond to the allegations of organ harvesting, the involvement of security officers, or the family’s claims of harassment by those officers.