Yechezkel Nakar, 68, died Tuesday, 21 days after a hospital prematurely issued his death certificate, his lawyer said.

Nakar, 68, was declared brain dead by doctors at NY Presbyterian last month, despite the objections of his Orthodox Jewish family, who did not consider him dead because his heart was still beating.

The hospital issued a death certificate for Nakar on May 31, but then transferred their “dead” patient to Maimonides Medical Center for further treatment. A judge did not issue a ruling in the case before Nakar died.

The move prompted Nakar’s family to seek a court order asking for the death certificate to be withdrawn; the document made it impossible for them to get health insurance coverage.