Shaken by scandal, University of California considers barcodes for cadavers

Sac Bee ^ | 1/31/05 | Michelle Locke - AP

[NormsRevenge]

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) - Shaken by a corpse-selling scandal, University of California officials are considering tracking cadavers by barcode or radio frequency devices. The high-tech fix is one of a number of reforms UC is proposing in an effort to assure people that bodies donated to science will be used wisely. It's an important safeguard for a vital, but little-regulated area of modern medicine, experts say.

"There's more regulations that cover a shipment of oranges coming into California than there is a shipment of human knees that are going from a body parts broker in one state to Las Vegas," said Dr. Todd Olson, director of anatomical donations at Albert Einstein Medical School of New York and a council member of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists. Every year, thousands of bodies are donated to tissue banks and willed body programs.

Some of the cadaveric tissue can be transplanted - skin can be used on burn patients; shaped bone products can be used in spinal surgery. Body parts are also used for research on everything from making safer bicycle helmets to testing new medical treatments, and cadavers are vital to teaching medical students surgical skills and how the body works.

But along with those worthy purposes comes the shadowy world of body brokering, where unscrupulous people can reap thousands of dollars.

Federal law bans the sale of human organs and tissue, but it doesn't stop people who transport body parts from charging for transport and associated costs. Many of the people who do that are legitimate, but for those less so, there is money to be made. Experts estimate a human body could sell for the six figures if all the parts were used.

[NormsRevenge]

It would make it easier for them to vote, too.

[RexBeach]

You know, I was just about to write "I bet they could screw up at a two-car funeral."

[gubamyster]

I wonder if they will have to flip them over 5 times to find the bar code to scan it like the grocery store guy has to do w/ my box of cereal?

[Libertarian444]

Shaken by a corpse-selling scandal, University of California officials are considering tracking cadavers by barcode

Price check on Aisle 5!!.........

[Alia]

Yeah.. Govenor Schwarzenneggr, last year, had to enact an anti-necrophilia law, too. I wonder if it factors into this "bar code" issue.

[GoldCountryRedneck]

Don't trust them barcode thingies....wanna *see* that price sticker...