A body is transported to the Pierce County medical examiner’s office in Tacoma, Wash.
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Companies that harvest human organs, bones and other parts have moved into government morgues across the country to gain access to more bodies. In some cases, procurement teams are taking body parts before coroners are able to conduct an autopsy, even in the midst of sensitive investigations such as possible homicides. The procurement companies say there has never been a case in which a death investigation has been harmed by the procurement of body parts. Yet, The Times found more than two dozen cases in which investigations were complicated or upended by procurement, in just two Southern California morgues.
There are 8 stories.
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The Times found a rising number of death investigations across the country were complicated or upended after transplantable body parts were taken before a coroner’s autopsy. -
How firms helped rewrite a law to make it difficult for coroners to stop them from harvesting body parts.
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The Times found dozens of cases in which autopsy investigations were hindered or delayed by the procurement of tissues or organs — something the industry claims never happens.
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Worried about the risks of organ donation? Here’s what you can do
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Executives coached coroners on how to keep body parts harvesting records secret
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Los Angeles Times reporters found two dozen cases in which a death investigation was harmed by the procurement of body parts.
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L.A. County supervisors order an in-depth report on body part procurement in the morgue after Times investigation.
