Harvard Under Fire Over Mishandling of Donated Bodies

Harvard University has agreed to pay a ₹507-crore settlement to resolve lawsuits filed by families who alleged that the remains of their loved ones, donated for medical research, were not properly handled. The controversy involved Cedric Lodge, a former manager of the morgue at Harvard Medical School, who investigators found had removed human remains and sold body parts on the black market. The misconduct reportedly began in 2018 and involved body parts including heads, skin and hands. Lodge was arrested in 2023 and was sentenced to eight years in prison in December last year.

Several families subsequently filed lawsuits against Harvard, alleging that the university had failed to properly safeguard the donated remains. A Boston court has approved the settlement under which Harvard will pay the affected families. As part of the agreement, the university has expressed its willingness to apologise to the families and strengthen safeguards to prevent similar incidents. Harvard has also said it plans to establish special scholarships in memory of the donors, honouring those who contributed their bodies to medical education and research.