Texas probes medical school's use of bodies without consent following NBC News investigation
Texas state regulators are investigating a medical school's failure to notify surviving family members before cutting up and leasing out the bodies of their loved ones.
The Texas Funeral Service Commission notified the University of North Texas Health Science Center on Oct. 18 that it was opening an investigation into the center's body donation program, according to a letter obtained by reporters this week through a public records request.
The notice of complaint was issued one month after NBC News published an investigation revealing that the Fort Worth-based center had dissected, studied and leased out hundreds of unclaimed bodies without prior consent from the dead or any survivors.
The center's failure to obtain permission from next of kin before using corpses for medical research — and its refusal to immediately release remains to survivors who came forward later — may have violated state law, Funeral Service Commission investigator Rudy Villarreal wrote in the letter addressed to the Health Science Center's president, Sylvia Trent-Adams, who has since resigned. Villarreal also alleged that the center failed to get permission from regulators before shipping bodies and body parts across state lines.
The Funeral Service Commission, which regulates body donation in the state, has the power to issue fines against programs for violations. In a statement Wednesday, the agency confirmed the investigation is ongoing.
Health Science Center spokesperson Andy North said the center has been 'working diligently to ensure a complete and accurate production' of documents requested as part of the probe.
The Funeral Service Commission investigation is part of a cascade of changes and official actions triggered by NBC News' reporting. The news organization discovered dozens of families who said they would have claimed their loved ones' bodies and given them proper funerals if they had been told about their deaths. Some were still searching for their relatives, unaware that they had died. The dead included military veterans, people who struggled with drug addiction and homelessness, and a young murder victim.
The Health Science Center shipped many of the bodies and body parts to out-of-state medical schools, device makers and health care education companies — charging $649 for a head, $900 for a torso, $703 for a pair of legs.
In response to the reporters' findings, the Health Science Center announced in September that it was suspending its body donation program, firing the officials who led it and hiring a consultant to review the program's operations. North issued a statement last fall apologizing to the affected families.
Dallas and Tarrant counties — which had provided the Health Science Center with more than 2,300 unclaimed bodies under contracts dating back to 2019 — ended their agreements with the center. Device makers, research companies and other groups that had relied on the center for bodies — including Boston Scientific and the U.S. Army — canceled or re-evaluated their business relationships with the program. And last week, a Texas state senator introduced a bill to ban the use of unclaimed bodies without consent.
In its October letter, the Funeral Service Commission asked the Health Science Center to turn over documents related to the operation of its body donation program and set a 15-day deadline to comply. North said the Health Science Center was later granted a 45-day extension and has been providing records on a monthly rolling basis.
So far, the center has turned over more than 1,800 documents, a Funeral Service Commission official said.
Separately, the commission sent the Health Science Center a cease-and-desist letter in November ordering it to end its practice of disposing of corpses by liquefying them through a process commonly referred to as water cremation, which the commission said is illegal in Texas.
In its official response to the commission, sent Dec. 4, the Health Science Center defended its use of water cremations, which are formally known as alkaline hydrolysis, but said it had already halted the practice in September.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
16 hours ago
- Daily Record
Co-op urgently recalls popular food item as shoppers warned 'do not eat'
The Food Standards Agency has issued an allergy alert Shoppers are being urged not to eat a particular savoury snack sold at Co-op. An allergen mistake means that the product may pose a possible health risk to some consumers. The supermarket has issued a recall for its Co-op 4 Mini Pork & Pickle Pies as they were found to contain milk, an ingredient that has not been included on the list of ingredients. It means that the pies are unsuitable for those who suffer from an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents, with refunds and potential replacements being offered to customers. An allergy alert posted by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has shared that the supermarket's recall affects a pack size of 200g, with the affected use by dates being August 13, August 14 and August 16. Co-op said in its recall notice: "Co-op 4 Mini Pork & Pickle Pies are being recalled because they contain milk which is not mentioned on the label. This means the product is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to milk." According to the FSA alert, the supermarket has been advised to contact the relevant allergy support organisation that will tell its members about the recall. The retailer has also since issued point-of-sale notices to its customers in stores that sell the affected product. These explain all the details of the recall and what to do if the pies have been purchased. Shoppers who have purchased the affected packs of pies are being advised not to eat them, but to instead return them to the store they were bought from for a refund, or a replacement depending on availability. If the pies were purchased online, shoppers can receive a refund by calling 0330 041 7737. For further information, customers can contact Co-ops Careline on 0800 0686 727 or email via Product issues or returns at Speaking of its decision to recall its pork pies, Co-op said: We apologise for any inconvenience caused." Allergy alerts are issued by the food watchdog when there is a problem with a food item that means it should not be sold, leading to it either being 'withdrawn' or 'recalled.' This could be due to to multiple reasons that includes the food item posing a risk to consumers due to allergy labelling that is either missing or incorrect, or any other food allergy risk. In other recall news affecting Scotland, we previously reported that Fife-based firm Sarah Gray's had to issue a recall for several jars of strawberry and prosecco/champagne jams as they contained undeclared sulphites. Meanwhile, in Ireland, shoppers have been issued a warning not to eat a selection of salad bags due to the detection of Listeria monocytogenes. The recall affected bags of mixed leaves from McCormack Family Farms and Egan's Baby Spinach that can be found across Ireland at Tesco, Aldi, Lidl and Dunnes Stores.
The Herald Scotland
21 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Ex-Surgeon General Jerome Adams criticizes vaccine funding decision
Adams served from 2017 through the end of Trump's first term, when the administration helped develop mRNA vaccines to combat COVID-19 through Operation Warp Speed. Adams described the initiative as Trump's greatest achievement "bar none" and said it's concerning that his administration is turning away from the mRNA technology. Messenger RNA, or mRNA, is used in the two most common COVID-19 vaccines licensed in the United States. Adams, citing other experts, said it would've taken 18 to 24 months longer to develop the vaccines without the technology. "By the most conservative estimates, at least 2 million lives were saved," Adams said. "Many people say that up to 20 million lives were saved because of the vaccines." In a video posted on X Aug. 5, Kennedy said the decision to cut funding for mRNA vaccine development will impact 22 projects worth nearly $500 million at the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, which helps companies develop medical supplies to address public health threats. Kennedy called the vaccine technology "ineffective," which Adams said is "simply not true." Kennedy is a long-time vaccine skeptic who has been making sweeping changes to reshape vaccines, food, and medicine policies as the nation's top public health official. Adams also faulted Kennedy's response to the Aug. 8 shooting at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta that claimed the life of a police officer, saying his rhetoric about vaccines was "fanning the flames that lead to situations like we saw at the CDC." Authorities identified Georgia resident Patrick Joseph White, 30, as the shooter. White's neighbor, Nancy Hoalst, told the New York Times that White believed vaccines had hurt him. "We have to understand people are listening," Adams said of Kennedy's rhetoric. "And when you call the CDC a cesspool... when you make claims that have been proven false time and time again about safety and efficacy of vaccines, that can cause unintended consequences." The Department of Health and Human Services didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about Adams' remarks. Kennedy said in an email to HHS staff Aug. 9 that the shooting "is a reminder of the very human challenges public servants sometimes face -- even in places dedicated to healing and progress." "But it also reinforces the importance of the work you do every day," he added. Contributing: Adrianna Rodriguez and Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY; Reuters
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
UK homeowners urged to clean one thing or risk 'painful spiders' entering their home
A expert has warned that neglected home maintenance could be giving killer spiders easy access and with spider season beginning, homeowners are urged to act fast With spider season in full effect, an expert warns it may be your windows that are actually inviting false widows and other dangerous species into your home and it's how dirty your windows are that attract the scary creatures. According to Dr Tom Elwood, a UK-based arachnologist, unclean window frames, dusty corners and cracked seals are ideal hiding spots for spiders and attract the insects they hunt. 'Spider season kicks off in August,' says Dr Elwood, 'and dirty windows offer the perfect conditions - warmth, insects and shelter. If your window sills aren't clean or covered in cobwebs, you could be welcoming spiders inside.' False widows are undeniably the UK's most feared spider, and are usually to blame for bites. While the majority aren't dangerous, in rare cases they can cause serious infection, swelling and pain. They're usually found in window corners, sheds, garages and undisturbed indoor spaces, and they thrive in warmer environments. In one severe case from Berkshire, personal trainer Ivan Savage nearly died in 2023 after being bitten by a false widow in his home. He was hospitalised with sepsis and needed emergency surgery after pest control discovered over 500 false widows inside the property. Although deaths are extremely rare, a 60-year-old woman in Hampshire died in 2014 after developing sepsis believed to be linked to a false widow bite making it one of the UK's only confirmed fatal cases. Why now and what you should do Spider season begins in early August, when rising temperatures drive male spiders indoors in search of mates. While sightings tend to peak in September, the early weeks are when it's easiest to prevent an infestation. 'The spiders don't wait until autumn,' Dr Elwood explains. 'They're already active and if your windows are neglected, you've basically left the door open.' Experts are urging homeowners especially in high-alert areas like Bristol, Essex, Devon, Kent, London and Norfolk to start cleaning now. That means wiping window sills, scrubbing corners, resealing cracked frames and removing any cobwebs or build up that could attract insects. You don't need harsh chemicals. A simple mix of white vinegar and warm water sprayed onto glass and frames, wiped with a microfibre cloth or old newspaper, can be just as effective and safer for pets and skin. And staying on top of it matters. Experts recommend cleaning every 7 to 10 days during the season. Because once spiders move in especially ones like the false widow it's no longer just an inconvenience. It can become a health risk.
