Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Ep 13-Donated to Science, Sold for Profit: America's Body Trade
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Ep 13-Donated to Science, Sold for Profit: America's Body Trade
Send us a text
Beneath the noble veneer of "donating your body to science" lies a disturbing truth—an entirely unregulated industry where human remains are bought, sold, and shipped like commodities. This episode pulls back the curtain on America's body broker industry, revealing how donated bodies often end up dismembered, sold for profit, and used in ways donors never imagined or consented to.
From historical grave robbers like Burke and Hare who murdered for medical specimens, to modern-day scandals at prestigious institutions like Harvard Medical School, we trace the evolution of this shadowy trade. You'll discover why it's currently more regulated to sell a hot dog on a street corner than to traffic in human remains, and how a single donated body can generate up to $100,000 when sold piece by piece.
We share shocking case studies: a Colorado funeral home that secretly sold bodies while returning fake ashes to grieving families; a respected ENT doctor shipping human heads via commercial carriers; and an organized network that treats human remains like fast-food inventory. Most disturbingly, we reveal how these operations are largely legal due to massive regulatory gaps that have persisted for decades.
The consequences are profound—not just for the dignity of the deceased, but for grieving families who discover their loved ones' remains were treated as merchandise instead of contributing to medical advancement. As one industry insider admitted, "If you can print a shipping label, you can move a human head."
Ready to protect yourself and your loved ones? Listen to discover what reforms experts recommend and the critical questions to ask if you're considering body donation. Share this episode to help expose a system that desperately needs transparency and accountability.
Sources for today’s episode include:
Reuters Investigates: In the U.S. market for human bodies, anyone can sell the donated dead
CBS: Inside the largely unregulated market for bodies donated to science: "It's harder to sell hot dogs on a cart" - CBS News
Denver7 investigates: Selling body parts: Colorado's secret black market industry
Body Brokers, 2006. Ann Cheney
20% Off Strong Coffee Company: https://strongcoffeecompany.com
Support the show
Don't miss a (heart) beat! Check out our Instagram @doctoringthetruthpodcast and email us your Medical Mishaps at [email protected]. Join us on Facebook at Doctoring the Truth, and TikTok @doctoring the truth. Don't forget to download, rate, and review so we can keep bringing you more exciting content each week!
Stay safe, and stay suspicious...trust, after all, is a delicate thing!
Don't forget to check out these fantastic discounts from our sponsors:
Get 30% off your order with the code STAYSUSPICIOUS at thecuminclub.com
Visit www.shimmerwood.com for an exclusive 30% off with our discount code STAYSUSPICIOUS
20% Off Strong Coffee Company https://strongcoffeecompany.com/discount/STAYSUSPICIOUS
www.handful.com for 30% off with our code STAYSUSPICIOUS
www.standshoes.com for 15% off any product with our code STAYSUSPICIOUS
View all episodes
By Jenne Tunnell and Amanda HouseSend us a text
Beneath the noble veneer of "donating your body to science" lies a disturbing truth—an entirely unregulated industry where human remains are bought, sold, and shipped like commodities. This episode pulls back the curtain on America's body broker industry, revealing how donated bodies often end up dismembered, sold for profit, and used in ways donors never imagined or consented to.
From historical grave robbers like Burke and Hare who murdered for medical specimens, to modern-day scandals at prestigious institutions like Harvard Medical School, we trace the evolution of this shadowy trade. You'll discover why it's currently more regulated to sell a hot dog on a street corner than to traffic in human remains, and how a single donated body can generate up to $100,000 when sold piece by piece.
We share shocking case studies: a Colorado funeral home that secretly sold bodies while returning fake ashes to grieving families; a respected ENT doctor shipping human heads via commercial carriers; and an organized network that treats human remains like fast-food inventory. Most disturbingly, we reveal how these operations are largely legal due to massive regulatory gaps that have persisted for decades.
The consequences are profound—not just for the dignity of the deceased, but for grieving families who discover their loved ones' remains were treated as merchandise instead of contributing to medical advancement. As one industry insider admitted, "If you can print a shipping label, you can move a human head."
Ready to protect yourself and your loved ones? Listen to discover what reforms experts recommend and the critical questions to ask if you're considering body donation. Share this episode to help expose a system that desperately needs transparency and accountability.
Sources for today’s episode include:
Reuters Investigates: In the U.S. market for human bodies, anyone can sell the donated dead
CBS: Inside the largely unregulated market for bodies donated to science: "It's harder to sell hot dogs on a cart" - CBS News
Denver7 investigates: Selling body parts: Colorado's secret black market industry
Body Brokers, 2006. Ann Cheney
20% Off Strong Coffee Company: https://strongcoffeecompany.com
Support the show
Don't miss a (heart) beat! Check out our Instagram @doctoringthetruthpodcast and email us your Medical Mishaps at [email protected]. Join us on Facebook at Doctoring the Truth, and TikTok @doctoring the truth. Don't forget to download, rate, and review so we can keep bringing you more exciting content each week!
Stay safe, and stay suspicious...trust, after all, is a delicate thing!
Don't forget to check out these fantastic discounts from our sponsors:
Get 30% off your order with the code STAYSUSPICIOUS at thecuminclub.com
Visit www.shimmerwood.com for an exclusive 30% off with our discount code STAYSUSPICIOUS
20% Off Strong Coffee Company https://strongcoffeecompany.com/discount/STAYSUSPICIOUS
www.handful.com for 30% off with our code STAYSUSPICIOUS
www.standshoes.com for 15% off any product with our code STAYSUSPICIOUS