For the first time, criminal charges have been made against an American transplant surgeon. San Francisco doctor Hootan Roozrokh, 33, is alleged to have hastened the death of a 25-year-old disabled man last year to harvest his organs sooner. If convicted, he could face up to eight years in prison. He maintains that he has committed no crime.

The outcome of the case will depend on how the facts are construed. Ruben Navarro was a physically and mentally disabled man who was put on life support on January 29, 2006. On February 3, he was removed. Dr Roozrokh then gave him a total of 200 milligrams of morphine and 80 milligrams of the sedative Ativan. This is apparently many time the normal doses for these drugs. But Navarro still did not die. After 30 minutes, he was returned to intensive care, where he passed away the next morning.