Q. (See question # 1089 above) If the heart was extracted without doing all possible to revive the patient, would Halacha permit using it after the fact, in order to save a life?
A. Horav Shlomo Millers Shlita opinion is that after the fact, once the heart extraction has been performed, the heart can be used to save someone’s life. Although, usually the extraction would be done without the specific knowledge who the recipient may be; even it was known, it would be of no consequence, as the removal would have been carried out anyway for the benefit of another recipient. This applies even if the proper Halacha process mentioned in the prior answer was not followed. It also would not matter whether the donor belonged to the Jewish faith or not.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a
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