Death row inmate Ronald Phillips wants to donate his organs to two members of his family and wants the rest of his organs to be given to strangers after he dies.
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections denied that request.
But Gov. John Kasich is granting a stay of execution to give medical experts time to determine whether Phillips’ non vital organs or tissues can be donated.
If he is found to be a viable organ donor to his family or others, the procedures would be performed and he would be returned to death row to await his new execution date.
Phillips is the first inmate set to be executed with a new two drug procedure involving an overdose of a pain killer and a sedative.