Dale Wheatley, an employee of the Anatomical Gift Association of Illinois (AGA), recently came forward to voice his worries regarding how donated human remains are being handled for medical research. Wheatley, who works at the AGA’s “rack room” and drives a delivery van for body parts, raised his concerns on May 24th and the very next day found three severed heads left near his work area.
The AGA’s Executive Vice President William O’Connor rejects Wheatley’s claims, stating that his job is to manage these body parts and that his current accusations are inappropriate. However, Wheatley has stated that some of the hospitals and schools that were sent donated bodies have sent them back because they are not in suitable conditions. He alleges that these bodies had mold, rot, and insect infestations.
In response to the situation, Wheatley decided to file a police report and contacted both local and state authorities. He has enlisted the help of employment lawyer David Fish, whose goal is to help the AGA address these allegations without the need for legal action. Wheatley has expressed his desire for families of those who donate their bodies to be aware of the current conditions at the AGA and hopes to keep his job safe after speaking out.
The AGA claims that it practices integrity and respects the bodies of those who donate them, but Wheatley does not believe this is true. As it stands, those donations are embalmed, distributed to research institutions, and then returned to their families after cremation. It is vital that the AGA is held accountable for the situation and that families are aware of the poor conditions of donated remains.