Harvard to pay $53 million after morgue manager sold body parts

Harvard University has agreed to a $53 million settlement after its former morgue manager illicitly sold body parts donated for scientific research. The university will establish two settlement funds totaling $53 million to support affected families and the organ donation program.

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We are grateful to be working together with the plaintiffs to move forward in a way that prioritizes support for families and the (organ donation program) and avoids prolonged litigation.

Cedric Lodge, who managed the Harvard Medical School morgue before his dismissal in 2023, received an eight-year prison sentence in December for trafficking stolen human remains. Court documents revealed that Lodge and his wife engaged in selling body parts without authorization since approximately 2018, shipping them to buyers in other states.

Harvard Medical School Dean George Daley and Dean for Medical Education Bernard Chang expressed deep sorrow and empathy for the donor families. They condemned Lodge's actions as "despicable, abhorrent, and a flagrant betrayal of our values." A judge granted preliminary approval to the settlement plan on Tuesday.

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We reaffirm our deep sorrow and empathy for the families of donors who may have been impacted.

In addition to the financial settlement, Harvard Medical School will establish an annual financial aid scholarship starting in the 2027-28 academic year to honor anatomical donors. Lodge's wife, Denise, received a one-year prison sentence, and six other individuals involved in purchasing remains from Lodge have also pleaded guilty and been sentenced.

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We reaffirm our deep sorrow and empathy for the families of donors who may have been impacted.