Courthouse News Service, February 10, 2025
A February 10, 2025, article from Courthouse News Service details the Harvard morgue scandal, which has reached the Massachusetts Supreme Court and exposed a vast, largely unregulated market for human remains. The case involves Cedric Lodge, the former morgue manager at Harvard Medical School, who was indicted in June 2023 for stealing body parts from donated cadavers and selling them to buyers. The scandal has resulted in multiple lawsuits against Harvard by families who donated bodies for medical research.
The underground market for human remains has expanded through online platforms, where sellers evade content moderation through coded language. Harvard has argued that it is immune from lawsuits under the Anatomical Gifts Act, claiming it acted in “good faith.” However, plaintiffs argue that Harvard failed in its duty to oversee its morgue operations properly.
The article reports that the trade in human remains dates back to the early days of medical schools and museum collections. Many remains were acquired unethically, and body brokers continue to exploit legal loopholes today. During oral arguments, justices questioned whether Harvard could truly deny responsibility, given that the morgue had security cameras and access controls. The case raises concerns that a ruling in favor of Harvard could discourage future body donations for scientific research.
Read more about the case here