Veteran's Family Says His Body Was Cut Up, Sold Without Consent
Posted on 09/17/2024
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(708x469:710x471)/unmarked-grave-091724-7718cf14b5a241a0970bb6e02ba5d723.jpg)
The family of a U.S. veteran says that after his death, his body was cut up and sold to various medical programs ? without their consent.
Army vet Victor Carl Honey struggled with paranoid schizophrenia and was homeless when he died in Dallas in September 2022, according to an NBC News investigation.
He was entitled to military funeral. But Honey?s body was deemed unclaimed, the outlet says. It was one of 2,350 bodies given to University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth for medical research.
NBC?s investigation said that Honey?s body was frozen, cut into pieces, and sold for profit; His right leg was sold for $341 to a Swedish medical device maker, while a Pittsburgh medical education company paid $900 for his torso.
His ex-wife Kimberly Patman told the outlet that she and their children were living in Dallas and added, ?His son has his same name. How could he be unclaimed??
In a statement posted to their website, the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth said, ?We have become aware of issues within our Willed Body Program, and that failures existed in its management and oversight. The program has fallen short of the standards of respect, care, and professionalism that we demand. The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth extends its deepest apologies to the families who have been impacted.?
NBC News said eleven other families learned that their loved ones had been deemed unclaimed ? and that the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth had sold their body parts after their death.
?He never wanted to be an organ donor," Patman told NBC. "We talked about it.?
According to NBC, the Dallas County Medical Examiner?s Office tried to locate next of kin, but their numbers were disconnected. As a part of a long-standing agreement between the county and the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, his body was sent to the academic center.
?I don?t believe they tried to find us,? Patman told NBC. "You can find people. NBC found me in a day. You can find people.?
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth furthered their statement: "HSC has taken the following immediate actions: Permanently closing HSC?s BioSkills Lab. Immediately suspending operations of the Willed Body Program pending the outcome of an internal assessment and review by an external global consulting firm with expertise in health care. Taken personnel actions, including terminating program leadership.?
???The intent of the program is to educate future physicians, scientists and other health professionals and improve the quality of health for families and future generations. We are committed to operating all programs with transparency, integrity and the highest ethical standards, and we are dedicated to maintaining trust in our institution. We hope these actions can ensure our educational studies are made with every effort to show dignity, grace and respect.?
"My kids want answers," Patman said. "They want justice for their dad."
Army vet Victor Carl Honey struggled with paranoid schizophrenia and was homeless when he died in Dallas in September 2022, according to an NBC News investigation.
He was entitled to military funeral. But Honey?s body was deemed unclaimed, the outlet says. It was one of 2,350 bodies given to University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth for medical research.
NBC?s investigation said that Honey?s body was frozen, cut into pieces, and sold for profit; His right leg was sold for $341 to a Swedish medical device maker, while a Pittsburgh medical education company paid $900 for his torso.
His ex-wife Kimberly Patman told the outlet that she and their children were living in Dallas and added, ?His son has his same name. How could he be unclaimed??
In a statement posted to their website, the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth said, ?We have become aware of issues within our Willed Body Program, and that failures existed in its management and oversight. The program has fallen short of the standards of respect, care, and professionalism that we demand. The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth extends its deepest apologies to the families who have been impacted.?
NBC News said eleven other families learned that their loved ones had been deemed unclaimed ? and that the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth had sold their body parts after their death.
?He never wanted to be an organ donor," Patman told NBC. "We talked about it.?
According to NBC, the Dallas County Medical Examiner?s Office tried to locate next of kin, but their numbers were disconnected. As a part of a long-standing agreement between the county and the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, his body was sent to the academic center.
?I don?t believe they tried to find us,? Patman told NBC. "You can find people. NBC found me in a day. You can find people.?
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth furthered their statement: "HSC has taken the following immediate actions: Permanently closing HSC?s BioSkills Lab. Immediately suspending operations of the Willed Body Program pending the outcome of an internal assessment and review by an external global consulting firm with expertise in health care. Taken personnel actions, including terminating program leadership.?
???The intent of the program is to educate future physicians, scientists and other health professionals and improve the quality of health for families and future generations. We are committed to operating all programs with transparency, integrity and the highest ethical standards, and we are dedicated to maintaining trust in our institution. We hope these actions can ensure our educational studies are made with every effort to show dignity, grace and respect.?
"My kids want answers," Patman said. "They want justice for their dad."
Comments( 0 )
0 0 2
0 0 2
0 0 2
0 0 4