SAN FRANCISCO—An advocacy group is facing sharp criticism for trying to raise money using the case of a 13-year-old California girl who was declared brain dead.

Consumer Watchdog's recent fundraising appeal to supporters generated condemnation from an attorney for the family of the girl, Jahi McMath, and from Children's Hospital Oakland, where she was declared brain dead following sleep apnea surgery.

The nonprofit noted in its email solicitation that it fights for patient safety for families like McMath's and it had drafted a proposed November ballot measure that would raise medical malpractice award limits in California.









Jahi underwent surgery at Children's Hospital on Dec. 9 to treat severe sleep apnea. Surgeons removed her tonsils and other parts of her nose and throat to widen the air passages.

Following the surgery, she bled from her mouth and nose and went into cardiac arrest. Doctors declared her brain dead three days later and on Dec. 20 sought to remove her ventilator.

Her mother, Nailah Winkfield, refusing to believe her daughter was dead as long as her heart was beating, went to court to stop the machine from being disconnected and twice won injunctions stopping the hospital. On Friday, the two sides reached an agreement, allowing Jahi to be transferred to an undisclosed facility.