Former Harvard Morgue Manager Sentenced After Selling Donor Body Parts

Harvard University has agreed to a $53 million settlement following a scandal involving the theft and sale of human remains donated for medical research, according to CBS News and AFP.

A judge gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a plan creating two settlement funds for affected families and Harvard’s anatomical donation program. The university said distributing the money could take several months.

Former Harvard Medical School morgue manager Cedric Lodge pleaded guilty to trafficking stolen human remains and was sentenced to eight years in prison in December.

Harvard called Lodge’s conduct a serious betrayal of medical ethics and expressed sympathy for affected families.

The settlement also includes a commitment to strengthen the school’s donor program and provide families with a statement condemning the crimes.

Harvard plans to establish an annual financial aid scholarship honoring anatomical donors beginning in the 2027-28 academic year.

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Harvard agrees to pay millions after morgue manager sold body parts https://t.co/lwCM0moG0M

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) August 19, 2026

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tippinsightsTIPP Staff