An investigation conducted by NBC News has discovered a disturbing practice taking place in the Dallas-Fort Worth Texas area. Evidence has revealed that the remains of the destitute deceased who passed away are routinely retrieved from various facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, and homeless encampments.
These same bodies are then utilized for educational or research purposes without the prior consent of the deceased individuals. Shockingly, this happens without the consent of any living relatives of the deceased.
At least 12 states received body parts from the University of North Texas between 2021-2023 the NBC investigation showed. Following NBC’s eye-opening report, the school ceased the program after initially saying unclaimed bodies served as a valuable tool for medical training.
Mike Hixenbaugh, who reported on this story for NBC News, said Dallas and Tarrant counties partnered with the University of North Texas Health Science Center to deal with unclaimed bodies.
“Normally when a county has an unclaimed body, they have to bear the cost of either cremating them or burying them,” Hixenbaugh said. “Officials struck this deal and called it a ‘win-win.’ The counties could save money on burial and the medical school would get what one official called ‘valuable material.’