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Black America Web
15 hours ago
- Health
- Black America Web
Memorial Honors Bruce Tucker, Black Man Whose Heart Was Taken Without Consent In Virginia's 1st Transplant
Source: Mininyx Doodle / Getty The family of Bruce Tucker gave their loved one the home-going service he deserved after years of pain. According to ABC 8 News , on May 30, relatives of the 54-year-old gathered together at a private ceremony organized by Virginia Commonwealth University Health (VCU Health) to honor Tucker, who died in 1968, following a severe head injury from a fall. Tragically, what followed the death of the Stony Creek native was equally heartbreaking. On May 25, 1968, physicians at the Medical College of Virginia (now VCU Health) declared him dead. Without notifying or obtaining consent from Tucker's family, surgeons—acting with a medical examiner's permission—removed his heart and kidneys. His heart was then transplanted into a white man in what became Virginia's first and the world's 16th recorded heart transplant. In response, Tucker's brother William filed a wrongful death lawsuit. However, in 1972, the jury ruled in favor of the defendants after being instructed to consider the concept of brain death, despite it not being recognized in the Code of Virginia at the time. To honor Tucker's legacy, VCU Health established a historical highway marker in the Stony Creek area of Dinwiddie County. The marker details the events surrounding Tucker's case, a gesture hospital officials say is part of an ongoing effort to acknowledge and address the violations of his medical rights and privacy. 'The marker now serves as a public reminder of the importance of informed consent and transparency in health care,' Gayle Turner, a representative for the Tucker family,' said, according to ABC 8 News. 'It also serves as a permanent acknowledgement and memorial tribute to the life and legacy of our beloved Bruce Oliver Tucker and the impact his story continues to have on medicine and ethics today.' Notably, on May 24, 1968, Tucker was taken—unconscious and unaccompanied—to the Medical College of Virginia, after he suffered his fall in Richmond, according to VCU Health's official website. The American Journal of Transplantation noted that the working-class Virginian fell off a three-foot wall. Doctors diagnosed him with a basilar skull fracture, a subdural hematoma, and a brain stem contusion. He underwent emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his brain and received a tracheostomy to help him breathe. As Bruce Tucker lay in critical condition, members of the hospital's transplant team began to consider him a potential organ donor. Unable to locate his next of kin, and with a white patient in need of a heart transplant, the surgeons proceeded. Though Virginia's 'Unclaimed Body Act' required a 24-hour waiting period before declaring a body unclaimed, this protocol was not followed. Within hours of his death being pronounced on May 25, 1968, surgeons removed Tucker's heart and kidneys, without the knowledge or consent of his family. His heart was transplanted into a wealthy white businessman named Joseph Klett in what became Virginia's first heart transplant and the 16th worldwide. Klett died six days later due to organ rejection. Tucker's family only learned of the organ removal after his death. His brother, William Tucker, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the surgeons and medical examiner involved. The case went to trial in 1972, but an all-white, all-male jury ruled in favor of the hospital. The case raised serious questions about medical ethics, racial injustice, and the need for clear consent protocols in organ donation. Thankfully, VCU Health is taking meaningful steps to acknowledge and address the injustice done to Tucker. In addition to the newly installed historical marker, the hospital unveiled a commemorative mural in honor of the 54-year-old in March, ensuring that his legacy will not be forgotten. The mural, titled Humanity of the Heart , was designed by students from VCU's mOb studiO and brought to life by Richmond-based artist Hamilton Glass. SEE MORE: New Project To Move Unmarked Black Graves In Virginia Family Of Henrietta Lacks Reach Private Settlement Deal With Thermo Fisher SEE ALSO Memorial Honors Bruce Tucker, Black Man Whose Heart Was Taken Without Consent In Virginia's 1st Transplant was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Blacksburg PD charge man with 100 counts in child porn investigation
BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) – Blacksburg Police have announced the arrest of a man in connection with a child porn investigation on May 27. Blacksburg PD said that 21-year-old Nirish Chilakala was arrested on Tuesday after serving a warrant at a home on Broce Drive. Former school faculty member accused of felony misconduct with minor Nirish Chilakala has been charged with the following: 100 counts of Possession of Child Pornography (Code of Virginia § 18.2-374.1:1) Chilakala has since been released on a $10,000 secured bond. Police said the investigation is still ongoing. If anyone has any information regarding the incident(s), please contact the Blacksburg Police Department at 540-443-1400. You can remain anonymous by calling the Blacksburg Police Tip Line at (540) 961-1819 or by emailing ciu@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Youngkin announces separate flag orders for Monday and Tuesday
RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) – On Friday, May 23, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued two separate flag orders. The first recognizes Memorial Day. The governor ordered that Virginia and U.S. flags be flown at half-staff on all state and local buildings from sunrise on Monday, May 26 until noon. We remember with profound gratitude the brave men and women who gave their lives in defense of our country. Pursuant to § 2.2-3310.1 of the Code of Virginia, all agencies and institutions of the Commonwealth shall display the POW/MIA flag on public buildings on Memorial Day in honor and remembrance of the service and sacrifice of members of the United States Armed Forces who are or were prisoners of war or reported missing in action. Excerpt from Gov. Youngkin order Gerry Connolly, a Democratic congressman and fixture of Virginia politics, dies at 75 Gov. Youngkin also ordered flags be flown at half-staff in memory and respect of Congressman Gerald E. 'Gerry' Connolly. Connolly died Wednesday at the age of 75. We recognize Congressman Connolly's deep commitment to Virginia through his decades of distinguished public service, including his time on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and in the United States House of Representatives for the 11th District. Excerpt from Gov. Youngkin order The governor ordered that flags be lowered at sunrise on Tuesday, May 27, and remain at half-staff until sunset in memory of Congressman Connolly. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Youngkin orders POW/MIA flag be flown at full staff Saturday
RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) – Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an order for the POW/MIA flag to be flown at full staff on public buildings all day Saturday in recognition of Armed Forces Day. Armed Forces Day is celebrated each year on the third Saturday in May. This year, it falls on Saturday, May 17. May is also Military Appreciation Month. Gov. Youngkin's flag order states: Pursuant to § 2.2-3310.1 of the Code of Virginia, all agencies and institutions of the Commonwealth shall display the POW/MIA flag at full staff on public buildings on Armed Forces Day in honor and remembrance of the service and sacrifice of members of the United States Armed Forces who are or were prisoners of war or reported missing in action. I hereby order that the POW/MIA flag shall be flown on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Ordered on this, the 16th day of May, 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Norfolk attorneys in turf war over authority to prosecute shoplifting cases
A feud between Norfolk's city attorney and the city's top prosecutor over whose office should handle misdemeanor shoplifting cases has quickly escalated into a political turf war with both sides claiming chief authority. The Norfolk City Council unanimously approved a code change Tuesday that will let the City Attorney's Office prosecute misdemeanor shoplifting cases after Mayor Kenny Alexander complained Commonwealth's Attorney Ramin Fatehi wasn't bringing charges. Fatehi issued a swift rebuke the next day, saying he would revoke the city attorney's authority to prosecute any misdemeanors in Circuit Court and would implement additional oversight of charges pursued in District Court. He painted the move as power grab by city lawmakers that would disproportionately be used to target poor people. But Norfolk City Attorney Bernard Pishko is now arguing Fatehi lacks the legal power to forbid his office from prosecuting misdemeanor shoplifting cases in Circuit Court. 'You lack the resources to attend to many of the issues our citizens face on a daily basis, and your prosecutors could not replicate the relationship we have with our code enforcement officers,' Pishko wrote in a letter sent Thursday. Under Virginia law, commonwealth's attorneys — elected constitutional officers — must prosecute all felonies in their jurisdictions. But prosecutors have discretion on misdemeanor crimes, and Fatehi says the state does not provide funding for attorneys to handle misdemeanor case loads. Virginia state code says city attorney's offices in the commonwealth can prosecute misdemeanor cases, so long as the city council wants them to and the elected commonwealth's attorney signs off on it. The Code of Virginia section reads: 'City and town attorneys, if so authorized by their local governing bodies, and with the concurrence of the attorney for the commonwealth for the locality, may prosecute criminal cases charging either the violation of city or town ordinances, or the commission of misdemeanors within the city or town.' Fatehi said under that law, his office has the authority to permit the city attorney's office to prosecute state and city misdemeanors. As of 5 p.m. Friday, he said he will revoke the city attorney's permission to prosecute any offenses punishable by jail or fine in Circuit Court. Further, he plans to scrutinize all cases the city attorney's office pursues in District Court, requiring them to provide monthly reports about all criminal cases they staff. However, Pishko said in his letter city code directs the city attorney to prosecute all city code violations, and the Code of Virginia says municipal corporations shall have all powers granted to it by its charter. Thus, Pishko said Fatehi's referenced state code section was superseded by another state code section. The matter could see the two attorneys duke it out in court. In his letter, Pishko asked Fatehi to rescind his decision and said doing so would eliminate the need for a seeking a declaratory judgement. Fatehi said the two parties met in person Thursday but were unable to reach an agreement. 'I remain ready to have a serious discussion on how to avoid the criminalization of poverty, but until I see a meaningful change in the position of the City Attorney or his employer, my letter stands,' Fatehi said in an email. Norfolk prosecutor revokes city attorney authority on shoplifting charges following council vote Norfolk to vote on allowing city attorney to prosecute misdemeanor shoplifting Norfolk commonwealth's attorney faces challenge from former federal prosecutor Amanda Howie, administrator for the Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys, said she could not recall a top prosecutor in another Virginia locality ever attempting to forbid a city or county attorney from prosecuting cases. She did not know whether Fatehi's moves were legal. The feud kicked off when Alexander announced a plan for the City Attorney's Office to begin prosecuting misdemeanor shoplifting cases at his annual State of the City event. Fatehi said he lacked the state or city funding to staff the prosecution of misdemeanor shoplifting cases, and the city has ignored requests for more funding. He also called the move politically motivated — Fatehi is facing a June 17 Democratic primary challenge by John Butler, a former federal prosecutor. Butler has been endorsed by Alexander and City Council members Jeremy McGee, Tommy Smigiel and Courtney Doyle. Most prosecutor's offices in Hampton Roads take at least on some misdemeanor cases, such as DUIs, some domestic assaults and cases involving violence in schools. For many other misdemeanors, police officers organize the case against the defendants, just as they do with traffic cases. Though the officers are considered witnesses rather than prosecutors, they must essentially prosecute their own cases without a lawyer. It's a common practice when prosecutors are not available for whatever reason, said Rob Poggenklass, the executive director of Justice Forward Virginia, a state criminal justice reform group. In Norfolk, for example, the Norfolk Police Department can — and does — still make arrests in misdemeanor shoplifting cases, but must handle the cases on its own. When prosecutors in Hampton and Newport News backed away from handling misdemeanor marijuana possession cases in 2012, police began handling the cases on their own. But because drug possession could be difficult to prosecute, police were having difficulties handling such cases. The Hampton City Council in 2014 created a position within the City Attorney's Office to take on the marijuana cases, the Daily Press reported at the time. In 2016, the Newport News City Council granted their Commonwealth's Attorney two new positions in return for agreeing to prosecute the misdemeanor marijuana cases once again. Several Norfolk residents who spoke at the council's Tuesday meeting expressed concern the move to pursue more misdemeanor shoplifting charges would harm the city's most vulnerable people. Poggenklass said more prosecutions would only hurt marginalized Norfolk residents and would not deter the act of stealing. He said city officials should instead be investigating why residents are stealing and providing structural supports to eliminate the need for the crime. Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345, Peter Dujardin, 757-897-2062, pdujardin@
