The years-long agreement between Tarrant County and the University of North Texas Health Science Center on the use of unclaimed dead bodies has officially come to an end. NBC News has uncovered financial records showing that UNTHSC made a profit of approximately $2.5 million by taking custody of over 2,300 bodies and leasing their body parts to external groups.
However, the investigation also exposed failed attempts to contact family members before deeming a body unclaimed. One such case involved the family of a man who had died from a drug overdose and had his body taken to UNTHSC for study without his family’s consent. The family was eventually billed for the return of his ashes a year and a half later.
Following the investigation, Tarrant County leaders decided to reevaluate their contract with UNTHSC and ultimately voted unanimously to terminate the partnership. The decision was made with the understanding that bodies used for medical research should have either given consent or consent from a loved one.
Moving forward, the issue of what to do with unclaimed bodies remains a challenge, particularly in cases where there are no living relatives to claim them. It’s a complex issue that Tarrant County leaders will need to address in order to ensure respect and dignity for deceased individuals, as well as determine responsibility for handling unclaimed bodies in the future.
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