Six families have filed lawsuits against the Alabama Department of Corrections after discovering that their loved ones’ bodies were returned to them missing internal organs following state-ordered autopsies. The families are seeking answers regarding what happened to the organs and where they ended up. The families were shocked to find out about the missing organs and buried a sealed bag containing them along with their deceased family members.
The lawsuits also highlight concerns raised by UAB medical students in 2018, who questioned if families of incarcerated individuals had the same ability as others to request that organs be returned with the body. UAB, in response, stated that proper authorizations should be obtained from the appropriate legal representative of the deceased, and that organs are only kept for additional testing if necessary to determine the cause of death.
The University of Alabama System, including UAB, is a defendant in the lawsuits and has indicated they will file a motion to dismiss. UAB no longer performs autopsies for the state prison system, and the Alabama Department of Corrections has not yet provided a comment on the matter.
The families involved in the lawsuits are seeking justice for their deceased loved ones and pushing for transparency and accountability from the Alabama Department of Corrections and UAB regarding the handling of their family members’ bodies and organs. The families believe that what happened is barbaric and should not be occurring in today’s society.
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