Harvard agrees to pay millions after morgue manager sold body parts
Summary
Harvard Medical School will pay $53 million to settle lawsuits from families whose donated bodies were stolen and sold by a former morgue manager. Cedric Lodge admitted to taking parts from cadavers between 2018 and 2021 and was sentenced to eight years in prison.Key Facts
- Harvard agreed to pay $53 million to end lawsuits about mishandled body donations.
- Cedric Lodge, the former morgue manager, sold body parts online from 2018 to 2021.
- Lodge used his role managing the Anatomical Gifts Program to take parts from donated cadavers.
- After medical use, bodies are usually cremated or buried, but Lodge sold parts to buyers in two states.
- Lodge pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight years in prison; his wife also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to over one year.
- The lawsuits accused Harvard of ignoring Lodge’s actions for years before his indictment.
- The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court allowed the lawsuits to continue after initially being dismissed.
- Harvard will create a scholarship for medical students starting in 2027-2028 to honor body donors.
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