A vital organ was any organ which was absolutely essential for an individual to live, removal or significant damage resulting in death. In 2152, the individuals stored on the automated repair station had working vital organs, but had suffered severe neurological damage. (ENT: "Dead Stop") After the body of James T. Kirk (inhabited by Sargon) had been killed in 2268, Doctor McCoy managed to revive the body and get the vital organs working again, while the consciousness of Kirk was still located outside his body. (TOS: "Return to Tomorrow" )