For five years, the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth received unclaimed bodies from Dallas and Tarrant counties for medical research purposes. The bodies were assessed for their suitability for research, with those infected with diseases or decomposing being cremated. The remaining bodies were embalmed, stored in freezers, or used to train medical professionals.
Over 830 bodies out of 2,350 from 2019 were used in research, some being cut into pieces and leased to medical schools, the U.S. Army, and other medical technology companies. Supporters argue that using unclaimed bodies for research is financially beneficial and helps advance medical knowledge.
However, after reports that families were not informed about the use of their relatives’ bodies, the Health Science Center ceased the practice, fired officials, and apologized to affected families. Subsequently, more families came forward with similar experiences, leading NBC News to publish a database of over 1,800 people whose bodies were donated without consent.
The families expressed shock and sadness at the news that their loved ones’ bodies were potentially dissected and distributed across the country for research. The publication of the database is meant to help these families find out what happened to their relatives’ bodies.
The use of unclaimed bodies for research is legal in most of the U.S. and is seen as a cost-effective way to support medical advancements. However, the lack of transparency and consent in this practice has raised ethical concerns and caused distress to families whose loved ones were used in research without their knowledge.
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