Texas medical school caught illegally liquefying human bodies without consent, sparking outrage and calls for reform.
This is definitely one of the weirder stories we have for you today.
At a Glance
- University of North Texas Health Science Center ordered to stop using alkaline hydrolysis for body disposal
- The practice was discovered during a Texas Funeral Commission inspection and deemed illegal
- Ethical concerns raised over lack of consent and potential disregard for wishes of the deceased and families
- State legislator plans to introduce bill banning use of unclaimed bodies for research without consent
- Investigation revealed the center profited by dissecting and leasing body parts to medical companies and the Army
Illegal Body Disposal Method Uncovered
The University of North Texas Health Science Center has been ordered to cease its use of alkaline hydrolysis, also known as water cremation, for body disposal. This practice, which employs a mixture of water, chemicals, and heat to break down human remains, was discovered during an October inspection by the Texas Funeral Service Commission. Despite the center’s claims that the method was listed as an option in Texas administrative code, state regulators declared it illegal and issued a cease-and-desist letter.
The use of alkaline hydrolysis has sparked controversy due to its legal status and ethical implications. While proponents argue it’s an eco-friendly alternative to traditional cremation, attempts to legalize water cremation in Texas have failed, largely due to opposition from religious groups. The discovery of this unauthorized practice has intensified the debate over the treatment of human remains and the rights of the deceased and their families.
SPECIAL REPORT: A North Texas medical school dissected and leased out hundreds of poor people’s bodies without consent.
The program was suspended after @NBCNews shared the findings of its investigation.https://t.co/CVgLB5vW8v
— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 16, 2024
Unclaimed Bodies Used Without Consent
The controversy surrounding the Health Science Center extends beyond the use of alkaline hydrolysis. An NBC News investigation revealed that the center had been using unclaimed bodies for research and profit without obtaining proper consent. This practice, while legal in most U.S. states including Texas, has raised serious ethical concerns and prompted calls for legislative action.
“I was outraged and completely just disgusted to see what had been occurring,” Sen. Tan Parker, a Republican whose district includes Dallas, said.
Senator Tan Parker plans to introduce a bill banning the use of unclaimed bodies for research without consent.
The investigation found that since 2019, approximately 2,350 unclaimed bodies were given to the center, with over 830 dissected for study. The program generated significant revenue by leasing body parts to medical companies and the U.S. Army, raising questions about the ethical boundaries of medical research and the treatment of the deceased.
Failures in Contacting Relatives and Ethical Concerns
The NBC News investigation also uncovered failures in contacting relatives before declaring bodies unclaimed in Dallas and Tarrant counties. This revelation has led to trauma and outrage among affected families who were unaware of what had happened to their deceased loved ones. The practice has been compared to historical grave-robbing and is condemned by many medical schools.
“No individual’s remains should be used for medical research, nor sold for profit, without their pre-death consent, or the consent of their next of kin,” O’Hare’s office said. “The idea that families may be unaware that their loved ones’ remains are being used for research without consent is disturbing, to say the least.
In response to the revelations, the Health Science Center has suspended its body-donation program and fired officials involved. Local officials in North Texas are pushing for new policies to ensure ethical treatment of unclaimed bodies, while some experts and officials are calling for federal changes to prevent such practices nationwide.
Implications and Calls for Reform
The scandal has prompted widespread discussions on setting new ethical standards for handling unclaimed bodies and the need for greater oversight in medical research practices. Medical companies and the U.S. Army are reconsidering their policies on using unclaimed bodies, while the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has expressed sympathy for affected families.
“If my Catholic mother had donated her body to this program, and I later learned that this is what had happened to her body, I would be sick. I would be devastated. Because it’s not what she would have wanted,” Eli Shupe, a University of Texas bioethicist said on the matter.
The situation has been labeled a civil rights matter by some, including Rev. Al Sharpton, who has called for government intervention. As investigations continue and new legislation is proposed, the medical and scientific communities are grappling with the need to balance advancing research with respecting the dignity and wishes of the deceased and their families.
