The daughters of a 69-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran have filed a federal lawsuit against an Iowa hospital, claiming staff improperly harvested their father’s organs, skin, eyes, and tissue without his prior consent or any authorization from his next of kin.
The lawsuit claims the harvesting was done without even attempting to contact his children.
Martin Gillespie, a proud Air Force veteran described by family as a loving father of three and grandfather of eight, was pronounced dead on April 1 at Alegent Health Community Memorial Hospital in Missouri Valley.
According to the lawsuit, obtained by Law & Crime, Gillespie never authorized any anatomical gifts or organ donation during his lifetime.
The complaint alleges that hospital staff made “no attempt to contact” Gillespie’s next of kin, his daughters, Christina Gubbels and Daun Stoddard, before referring his body to the Iowa Donor Network.
Hours later, on the same day, the Iowa Donor Network harvested his organs, skin tissue, and eyes.
Gillespie’s body was then transported to Hennessey Funeral Home in Missouri Valley for cremation.
Court filings state that the hospital “possessed information” that Gillespie had biological children but incorrectly identified an aunt as the next of kin with authority to make anatomical gift decisions.
The lawsuit explicitly notes, “[The aunt] was not the decedent’s next of kin nor was she ever appointed to make legal or healthcare decisions on decedent’s behalf under a durable power of attorney or similar instrument. Decedent also did not authorize [the aunt] to make anatomical gifts on decedent’s behalf.”
The daughters claim they were “reasonably available to make decisions” and that the hospital failed to follow proper protocols for determining and contacting the legal next of kin. They allege the unauthorized harvesting caused severe emotional distress, and they are seeking more than $75,000 in damages for malpractice, fraud, and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
The lawsuit emphasizes, “On April 1, 2026, decedent arrived via Missouri Valley Fire and Rescue to defendant’s hospital and was pronounced deceased. During his lifetime, decedent did not authorize anatomical gifts of his body in any manner.”
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