For five years, unclaimed bodies from Dallas and Tarrant counties were sent to the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth. Out of around 2,350 bodies, over 830 were embalmed, frozen, and used for medical research or training purposes. Some were even cut into pieces and leased out to medical schools, the U.S. Army, and for-profit medical technology companies. Supporters claim that using unclaimed bodies for research helps save on burial costs and provides necessary specimens for advancing medicine.
However, a recent NBC News investigation revealed that at least a dozen families were not informed about what happened to their missing relatives. This led to the Health Science Center ceasing the use of unclaimed bodies, firing officials in charge of the body donation program, and issuing apologies to affected families. Subsequently, nine more families came forward to share similar experiences.
To assist families in finding closure and answers, NBC News is publishing a database of over 1,800 individuals whose bodies were donated to the Health Science Center by the two counties since 2019. This information was obtained through open records requests from county medical examiners. The publication of this database aims to shed light on the use of unclaimed bodies for medical research and generate awareness about the importance of informed consent and transparency in such practices.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
