The University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth has been using unclaimed bodies for medical research for the past five years. Bodies that were deemed unsuitable for research due to infectious diseases or decomposition were cremated, while the rest were embalmed or stored in freezers. Some bodies were used to train future medical professionals, while others were cut into pieces and leased out to various institutions for research purposes.
The use of unclaimed bodies for research has been defended as a cost-effective way to advance medicine, but after a recent investigation revealed that some families were unaware of the fate of their missing relatives, the Health Science Center suspended the program, fired officials involved, and issued apologies to affected families. More families have since come forward with similar stories, expressing shock and sadness over the use of their loved ones’ bodies without consent.
In an attempt to assist families in obtaining closure, NBC News has published a database of over 1,800 individuals whose bodies were donated to the Health Science Center by Dallas and Tarrant counties. The information was obtained through open records requests from the county medical examiners. This revelation has sparked a discussion about the ethics and transparency surrounding the use of unclaimed bodies for research purposes.
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