Sad Truth: Families Find Out About Loved Ones' Fates From News

Finding out that your family member's body was used for medical research without your knowledge. That's what happened to dozens of families who were shocked to learn from NBC News that their loved ones' bodies were studied and dissected after they passed away. These families thought their relatives had been buried or cremated, but they were horrified to discover that their bodies were given to a Texas medical school. The families were outraged because they weren't asked for consent. NBC News put together a list of the deceased's names and many families found out the grim truth from that list. One of those family members, Abigail Willson, was devastated to learn her mother's body was given to the University of North Texas Health Science Center without consent. Her mother had died in a hospice in Fort Worth. “We had searched everywhere for answers, " she said. "We would have honored her with a funeral if we knew. " This situation occurred because some counties in Texas saw the unclaimed bodies as a "resource" rather than a burden. They sent these bodies to the health center for dissection and study. Over 2, 000 unclaimed bodies were sent there since 2019, and some 830 were used for research – earning the health center around $2. 5 million a year. The university defended their program, claiming the bodies were of the "highest quality. " However, they suspended the program and fired the officials in charge after NBC News investigations revealed their practices. But for the families, the harm was already done. They're left to grieve their lost loved ones, who they never got to say a proper goodbye to. These families want to be sure this doesn't happen to others. The deceased included veterans, everyday workers, and those struggling with addiction. Each had a story, and each family deserved to know the truth.