Posted on 02/26/2006 9:44:40 AM PST by UnklGene
Shocking body parts investigation
(X-ray shows PVC piping)
(Cathy Orosz, WROC-TV)
Tonight four people face criminal charges, including the head of Bio-Medical Tissue Services, a downstate company that harvested human tissue and organs for transplants. 8 local funeral homes and 3 area hospitals are also tied to the investigation. Very graphic and gruesome details unveiled here Thursday by the Kings County district attorney.
The shocking local link is that more local funeral homes did business with BTS than previously thought. Over the course of four years, investigators say body parts were harvested from 1,077 corpses without knowledge of family members and with no guarantee the parts were safe for transplant.
A distraught son held the picture of his deceased father.
"Tore me apart, tore me apart," says Anthony Dumane.
It's one of more than one thousand cases of what's being called medical terrorism. X-rays depict the disturbing findings. People's deceased loved ones filled with PVC piping where bones and tissue were allegedly illegally harvested and sold for transplants.
"What is particularly most disturbing is the fact that no medical precautions were taken to ensure that the tissue transplants were free from disease or defect," says Kings County DA Charles J. Hynes.
Investigators here say the parts came from 30 to 40 funeral homes nationwide, including Rochester.
8 local funeral homes did business with BTS, including the Thomas E Burger Home in Hilton, the Jarmusz Cotton Home in Victor and the Profetta Funeral Home. But the DA here made it very clear that there's no evidence any funeral directors conspired with the defendant.
"Mr. Mastromarino would approach people, funeral homes, and say "I'm looking to get into what's called a long bone donation program. Do you have any interest in participating in this program,'" says Kings County Assistant DA Josh Hanshaft.
The investigation continues with the focus on the former BTS office in Brighton. Authorities in Rochester have been asked for their assistance.
"I've spoken today to District Attorney Mike Green of Monroe County. We'll be working together as this investigation goes further," says Hynes.
The defendants charged today pleaded not guilty. Investigators here are not ruling out the possibility of more charges in this case. Also today we learned that Rochester General Hospital did receive tissue samples which originated from BTS. They tell us that 12 patients received those samples, all were tested and all are said to be ok. That was the case at Strong Hospital and Park Ridge as well
"Has that hip replacement come in yet?"
"He's just got back from Home Depot, Lowe's was all out."
Now the crew at BTS can be made cadavers themselves. I say hang them and send their corpses to the nearest university research lab.
This is only going somewhere if GOPers or Conservatives were involved. Otherwise, it'll go the way of the AIDS/ Hep C-tainted blood non-scandal, from Klintoon's Arkansas prosons.
Just plain sick.
Uhhh??? What did you just say. Translate please.
Let people sell their organs for profit, let the heirs of an estate do the same for their loved ones. Why should doctors and hospitals make big bucks, while those grieving are shamed into "donating"? There would suddenly be more parts available for patients, and this would restore the ownership rights to people. After all, the only thing we truly own is ourselves.....right? C'mon, tell me it's so.
Don't laugh, I actually know these guys.
(Oh, wait! That'll just play into their hands, won't it?)
Do you remember the tainted bloood supply from Arkansas prisons, sent to Canada, which infected thousands? Never went anywhere here. Clintons were involved. Duh.
If there were GOP/ Conservatives involved, it would have been front page news.
If I can find a link to one of the stories, I'll pass it along. I'm sure some "old timers" here remember it, back in the mid-90s or so.
Just search FR by title, with "tainted blood scandal." Get an easy dozen hits right off.
Thanks you, sir. Found it.
I'm thinking it might have been those prosons that had him scratching his head.
Ben, they'll have to change the book to 102 uses for PVC...
Maybe I should change my tag line (which is sarcastic, BTW, so don't flame me like I got flamed on another thread) to advertise one of my kidneys for sale. I need cash and I need it now.
I wonder what a unit of plasma goes for in a hospital. The local plasma center pays $20-$30 dollars for a 'donation', I can only imagine how much money is made on that.
Is that Ed Gein? If so, I read about him. 100% certifiable. The basis for Hannibal Lecter.
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