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Harvard to pay $53m over theft and sale of human remains from medical school

From The Guardian · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Harvard University will pay $53 million to settle lawsuits over the illegal theft and sale of human remains from its medical school.
  • A former morgue manager and his wife were sentenced for stealing and selling body parts donated for research between 2018 and 2020.
  • The settlement includes a webinar for affected families, a scholarship fund, and changes to the school's Anatomical Gift Program.

Harvard University has agreed to a $53 million settlement to resolve civil lawsuits concerning the illicit theft and sale of human remains donated to its medical school for scientific research. The scandal emerged following the sentencing of Cedric Lodge, a former Harvard medical school morgue manager, who received an eight-year prison term in December for his role in a nationwide scheme involving the theft and sale of body parts.

took the remains without the knowledge or permission of his employer, the donor, or the donor’s family

— US Justice DepartmentDescribing the actions of the former Harvard medical school morgue manager.

Prosecutors stated that Lodge, 58, stole and sold organs, skin, brains, and dissected heads from cadavers donated to Harvard between 2018 and at least March 2020. His wife, Denise Lodge, 65, was also sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for her involvement in the black market operation. The Justice Department reported that Lodge "took the remains without the knowledge or permission of his employer, the donor, or the donor’s family" and transported them to his New Hampshire home, where he and his wife would ship them to buyers in other states.

Many of the remains purchased from Lodge were resold for profit, according to the Justice Department, which also noted that several other defendants pleaded guilty in related cases and received sentences. As part of the settlement, Harvard Medical School will host a live webinar for claimant families, affirming that Lodge’s conduct was "morally reprehensible" and contrary to Harvard's standards. The school will also provide a summary of the changes implemented in its Anatomical Gift Program.

morally reprehensible

— George Daley and Edward HundertHarvard medical school deans describing Lodge's actions.

Furthermore, Harvard will establish an annual financial aid scholarship for medical students beginning in the 2027-28 academic year, intended to honor anatomical donors. Affected families initiated lawsuits against Harvard in the summer of 2023, alleging negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, and infliction of emotional distress. In a statement at the time, Harvard medical school deans George Daley and Edward Hundert described Lodge’s actions as "an abhorrent betrayal" and "morally reprehensible." The settlement aims to prevent prolonged litigation, though the process of healing from this incident continues.

an abhorrent betrayal

— George Daley and Edward HundertHarvard medical school deans describing Lodge's actions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Guardian. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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