The use of unclaimed bodies for medical study is examined in the series Dealing the Dead, which includes this article.
Within one of the biggest medical technology companies in America, a single email in August set off a series of hand-wringing and strategic planning: Boston Scientific was questioned by a reporter about whether the biotech behemoth knew that one of its companies had obtained remains for medical training without the deceased’s or their families’ consent.
According to internal emails obtained through a public records request, company executives discussed how or even whether to respond to the NBC News report, which worried them about how it would appear to investors. Officials claimed they were unaware the remains were unclaimed, although the corporation had obtained the specimens from a Texas medical school for trainings on a novel back pain therapy.
Boston Scientific’s worldwide corporate communications director, Jessica Sachariason, wrote to management and an internal attorney, saying, “We didn’t do anything illegal or wrong.” However, she pointed out that if Boston Scientific didn’t reply, the company’s reputation would be at jeopardy due to the NBC News findings.
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