Two members of Congress, Reps. Jasmine Crockett and Marc Veasey, have demanded answers and compensation for families after it was revealed that unclaimed bodies were used for medical research without consent or notification to relatives. The bodies were provided to the University of North Texas Health Science Center and dissected for use by other medical schools, research companies, and the Army. Family members of the deceased were never contacted, leaving them shocked to learn about the fate of their loved ones’ bodies. The lawmakers also highlighted the case of Victor Honey, an Army veteran, whose body was used for research without his family being notified. The failure to contact family members is a violation of state law requiring a diligent inquiry to find next of kin.
The Dallas and Tarrant medical examiner’s offices did not respond to requests for comment, while the Health Science Center declined to comment. Following the investigation, the health center suspended its body donation program and fired those responsible, prompting Tarrant County to adopt a new policy for finding next of kin. Despite these changes, Crockett and Veasey believe more safeguards are needed to prevent similar incidents in the future. They have asked the medical examiners to provide answers by November 30 regarding how unclaimed bodies, especially those of veterans, are handled, efforts to find next of kin, and plans for restitution for families who were not properly notified. The lawmakers aim to ensure that families are not deprived of their rights in the future and prevent unauthorized use of individuals’ remains for research.
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