Veteran's Body Cut up and Sold Without Family's Consent
The family of Victor Carl Honey, a U.S. Army veteran, recently learned that his body was sold to medical research companies without their consent. Honey, who struggled with homelessness and mental illness, died in Dallas in 2022. Despite having family nearby, his body was classified as unclaimed and transferred to the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNT-HSC) for research.
The Fate of Victor Honey's Body
After his death, Honey's body was dissected and sold to various medical companies. His right leg was purchased by a Swedish medical device manufacturer for vein harvesting training, while his torso was sent to Pittsburgh for spinal cord stimulator training. His family, including his ex-wife and children, were unaware of this. They are now demanding answers, asking why their loved one's remains were treated this way.
The Willed Body Program and Ethical Failures
The UNT-HSC received Honey's body under a long-standing agreement with Dallas County. However, NBC News revealed that the center used Honey's body, along with over 800 others, for medical education without obtaining consent from families. After being cut into parts and used in various trainings, Honey's remains were cremated. His family is outraged that they were not contacted before these actions were taken.
Program Suspensions After the Investigation
Following public outcry and media investigations, UNT-HSC announced the suspension of its Willed Body Program. The center admitted to failures in managing the program and stated that it is conducting an external review. The program had profited from the use of unclaimed bodies, including veterans like Honey, who was legally entitled to a military funeral. However, due to communication breakdowns, his body was used for research instead.
A National Issue
The issue of unclaimed bodies being used for research extends beyond Honey's case. NBC News reported that many other families have come forward with similar stories, learning too late that their loved ones' bodies were used in medical programs. This has led to increased scrutiny of the ethics surrounding body donation programs and whether consent is being properly sought.
Honey's family, like many others, now seeks justice and closure. His remains were finally laid to rest in 2024, nearly two years after his death.
References: Family of U.S. Veteran Says His Body Was Cut Up and Sold for Medical Research —Without Their Consent | As Families Searched, a Texas Medical School Cut Up Their Loved Ones
