A spokesperson told Reuters Health that the widely reported liver transplant at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital to alleged killer Johnny Concepcion never took place

The New York Post said Concepcion, 43, who allegedly stabbed his wife to death, had got a liver transplant at the hospital after consuming rat poison in a suicide attempt.

The story quickly made headlines such as msnbc. com's "Many outraged as accused murderer gets liver transplant" and CBS News' "Suspected Killer Gets Organ Transplant, Jumped to Top of Waiting List."

Liver failure from poison can sometimes kill people much more quickly than a chronic condition such as cirrhosis. That's why a victim of poisoning may move ahead of other patients who've spent more time on the liver transplant waiting list.

But spokesperson for the New York Presbyterian Hospital Bryan Dotson said the New York Post report was incorrect declined to make further comments as hospitals often do in an attempt to protect patient confidentiality.

It is not clear whether Concepcion had been taken to another hospital to receive a new liver.

Detective Marc Nell, a spokesperson for the New York Police Department confirmed that Concepcion had been arrested on July 7 in the Bronx in connection with the murder of Jordania Sarita. He told Reuters Health the police are still working on the case and Concepcion had been transported to the hospital by ambulance, but did not know when this had happened.

The alleged incident prompted Arthur Caplan, a bioethicist at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia to call for legislative action. Caplan said a hospital was not the appropriate place to make ethical judgments about patients, deciding who deserves care and who does not.

Towards the end, if anyone is to blame that Johnny Concepcion is alive to face trial that should be politicians, not doctors. It should not squander this pristine example of the powerful and uncompromising spirit that still makes this country the world’s best hope.