A recent ruling by an Alabama state judge will allow a lawsuit accusing state prisons of illegally harvesting organs from deceased inmates to proceed. The lawsuits filed by eight families allege that the Alabama Department of Corrections allowed the University of Alabama at Birmingham to study the organs of their deceased relatives without their consent. The families claim that the public entities intentionally hid their misconduct.
The judge denied the defendant’s motion to dismiss the case based on state immunity, allowing the lawsuit to move forward. The defense argued that the autopsies were authorized by a contract between the two state entities, but the judge determined that immunity does not apply when actions violate the law or are done willfully and maliciously.
Attorneys for the families argue that the contract itself was illegal under state law, which prohibits the retention of organs without consent. The families seek accountability and recognition that harm occurred.
The practice of studying organs from deceased incarcerated individuals was found to be common at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, with a significant percentage of their income coming from these autopsies. Lawyers for the families describe the practice as unethical and are seeking justice for their deceased loved ones.
The next hearing for the lawsuit is scheduled for May 6, where the families will continue to seek justice for their deceased relatives who were allegedly exploited for medical research without consent.
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