Harvard Asks Judge to Throw Out Lawsuit Over Medical School’s Mishandling of Human Remains
“filed a motion to dismiss and claimed immunity from any legal action in the class action lawsuit”
This story was like something right out of a horror movie.
Campus Reform reports:
Harvard asks judge to toss lawsuit over medical school’s mishandling of human remains
Harvard University has asked a Massachusetts judge to throw out a lawsuit filed by families who were impacted by its medical school mishandling human remains.
According to the Harvard Crimson, the Cambridge, Massachusetts university filed a motion to dismiss and claimed immunity from any legal action in the class action lawsuit, which includes nine cases and alleged breach of fiduciary duty, infliction of emotional distress, and negligence.
In asking for the lawsuit to be dismissed, Harvard referenced the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act and argued that the institution was acting in “good faith” in order to comply with the donors’ wishes, which would grant the institution immunity.
As Campus Reform previously reported, Harvard Medical School’s morgue manager Cedric Lodge was indicted in June for allegedly stealing human remains and then selling them in a nation [sic] trafficking ring.
Lawyers representing the families responded to the motion, claiming that Harvard’s reading of the law was too broad.
“The statute does not go so far as to afford blanket immunity to donees for anything that happens to the body after donation,” lawyers for the families wrote in a filing.
Jeffrey N. Catalano, who is representing the families, wrote: “We have alleged bad faith through Cedric Lodge. Cedric Lodge is Harvard, whether they want to be married to him or not.”
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Comments
When we started gross anatomy, it was drilled home that this was a lab that required the utmost respect for both the deceased (our cadaver) and the family members… Fooling around was an instant ticket out of med school.
Harvard appears to look down on a whole bunch of people… living and dead.
Ditto in my time (1977-78). Did first year anatomy at medical school, and absolutely had the same message.
C’mon Harvard. You have $50B. Open up those pockets.
Lately, Harvard seems to be tip towing through one steamy pile after another.
As if we needed further proof that the leadership of our leading educational institutions had lost all moral bearings……
Compared to Lodge’s kleptomania, Brinton’s was barely eccentric.
The human remains donated for medical education and research were STOLEN and SOLD by a Harvard official.
In what twisted world could that be considered acting in good faith?
I guess we are about to find out.
They’re saying they didn’t know he was doing it, so they were acting in good faith. Normally the law would make them responsible for his actions anyway, but the statute says so long as they act in good faith they’re immune, so they’re claiming that applies.
Apparently Harvard believes that it’s above any law–no one who donates their body to science believes that they’re going to sold off to the highest bidder by some thief