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The family of a U.S. Army veteran says his body was cut up and sold for medical research without their consent, per NBC News.
Victor Carl Honey, who was homeless and struggled with paranoid schizophrenia, died in Dallas in September 2022. Honey was entitled to a military funeral, but his body was deemed unclaimed. It was given to the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, where his body was frozen, cut into pieces, and sold for profit to various medical programs.
Honey's right leg was reportedly sold to a Swedish medical device maker for $341, while a Pittsburgh medical education company purchased his torso for $900.
Kimberly Patman, Honey's ex-wife, said it's unclear how her ex-husband's body went unclaimed as she and their children were living in Dallas at the time of his death.
“His son has his same name. How could he be unclaimed?” Patman said.
According to NBC News, Honey's family is among eleven others who have learned that their loved ones were deemed unclaimed and sold for parts by the University of North Texas Health Center at Fort Worth.
“We have become aware of issues within our Willed Body Program, and that failures existed in its management and oversight," UNT Health Center at Fort Worth said in a statement. "The program has fallen short of the standards of respect, care, and professionalism that we demand. The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth extends its deepest apologies to the families who have been impacted.”
When the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office attempted to locate Honey's family, their numbers were allegedly disconnected, NBC News reports.
“I don’t believe they tried to find us,” Patman told NBC. "You can find people. NBC found me in a day. You can find people.”
Honey's body was sent to UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth as a part of a long-standing agreement between the county and academic center.
“He never wanted to be an organ donor," Patman said of Honey. "We talked about it.”
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth said they're "permanently closing" its BioSkills Lab and "immediately suspending operations of the Willed Body Program pending the outcome of an internal assessment and review by an external global consulting firm with expertise in health care." The academic center has also "taken personnel actions, including terminating program leadership.”
“The intent of the program is to educate future physicians, scientists and other health professionals and improve the quality of health for families and future generations," a statement from the health science center reads. "We are committed to operating all programs with transparency, integrity and the highest ethical standards, and we are dedicated to maintaining trust in our institution. We hope these actions can ensure our educational studies are made with every effort to show dignity, grace, and respect.”
"My kids want answers," Patman said. "They want justice for their dad."
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