D’Arcy Law Firm Leading Nationwide Investigation Into Use of Illegal Tissue and Bone in Transplants
GALLOWAY, NJ – November 21, 2005
The D’Arcy Law Firm, with its main office located in Galloway Township, New Jersey, announced today that it is investigating a number of claims related to alleged stolen and potentially contaminated tissue and bone used in surgeries performed throughout the United States .
On October 13, 2005, there was a nationwide recall of human transplantation for tissue products distributed by Biomedical Tissue Services, Ltd. This company based out of Fort Lee, New Jersey, is presently under investigation for allegedly obtaining bones and other tissues illegally trafficked from New York-area funeral homes.
The recall directly stems from tissue that may have been harvested from corpses, without the knowledge or consent of the families of the deceased. It is believed that the recalled tissue was distributed between October 2, 2003 and September 13, 2005. The federal Food and Drug Administration has warned the public that Biomedical Tissues Services may have obtained tissue without receiving valid consent from the donors or screening the tissue for disease.
At issue are possibly a half dozen New York area funeral homes and numerous dead bodies. Reports of the investigation have suggested that the body-snatching enterprise may have been going on for a number of years with body parts being dissected from corpses at nights in the funeral homes. Reports also allege that PVC piping was inserted to fill out the clothing of the bodies of the deceased individuals so as not to alert family and friends attending open casket viewings. Once the body parts were delivered to the New Jersey based Biomedical Tissue Services, it is alleged the parts were separated, frozen and immediately shipped to other companies leading to an eventual final sale and transplant into unknowing patients. According to reports, it was only after an absentee funeral home owner touched the leg of a corpse and felt PVC piping that the scam came to light. It is believed that the matter is presently being investigated by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.
Unfortunately, the illegal tissue and bone scam appears to have directly impacted some residents of Atlantic County who received tissue or bone grafts since October 2, 2003. It is believed that at least one area hospital obtained tissue and bone implants which may have originated from Biomedical Tissue Services. In fact, one Atlantic County physician is presently advising patients who may have received such transplants that due to the potential for contaminated products, they should be tested for a number of diseases, including HIV, hepatitis B and C, human T-cell lymphotrophic virus (HTLV I and II) and syphilis. However, it is not certain whether all county physicians are making the effort to notify their patients.
Patrick T. D’Arcy, a partner with the D’Arcy Law Firm and current President of the Atlantic County Bar Association, explained that his firm has received a number of calls from patients from around the country who have undergone surgery which involved bone and tissue grafts. In fact, his firm is actively investigating potential civil lawsuits related to these transplants and is encouraging patients who have received any transplant after October 2, 2003, to follow up with their physicians and hospitals to confirm that they are not at risk. Mr. D’Arcy explained that his firm intends to aggressively pursue claims on behalf of patients who may have been placed at risk due to this illegal tissue and bone horror story.
If you or a loved one may have bene impacted by this illegal bone and tissue scam, you should take steps to protect yourself. The D’Arcy Law Firm can help you learn whether you received an illegal bone or tissue product and protect your legal rights. Call us today for a free consultation at 1-866-DARCY-LAW (1-866-327-2952) or 609-748-3700.
The D’Arcy Law Firm, with its main office located in Galloway Township, New Jersey, announced today that it is investigating a number of claims related to alleged stolen and potentially contaminated tissue and bone used in surgeries performed throughout the United States .
On October 13, 2005, there was a nationwide recall of human transplantation for tissue products distributed by Biomedical Tissue Services, Ltd. This company based out of Fort Lee, New Jersey, is presently under investigation for allegedly obtaining bones and other tissues illegally trafficked from New York-area funeral homes.
The recall directly stems from tissue that may have been harvested from corpses, without the knowledge or consent of the families of the deceased. It is believed that the recalled tissue was distributed between October 2, 2003 and September 13, 2005. The federal Food and Drug Administration has warned the public that Biomedical Tissues Services may have obtained tissue without receiving valid consent from the donors or screening the tissue for disease.
At issue are possibly a half dozen New York area funeral homes and numerous dead bodies. Reports of the investigation have suggested that the body-snatching enterprise may have been going on for a number of years with body parts being dissected from corpses at nights in the funeral homes. Reports also allege that PVC piping was inserted to fill out the clothing of the bodies of the deceased individuals so as not to alert family and friends attending open casket viewings. Once the body parts were delivered to the New Jersey based Biomedical Tissue Services, it is alleged the parts were separated, frozen and immediately shipped to other companies leading to an eventual final sale and transplant into unknowing patients. According to reports, it was only after an absentee funeral home owner touched the leg of a corpse and felt PVC piping that the scam came to light. It is believed that the matter is presently being investigated by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.
Unfortunately, the illegal tissue and bone scam appears to have directly impacted some residents of Atlantic County who received tissue or bone grafts since October 2, 2003. It is believed that at least one area hospital obtained tissue and bone implants which may have originated from Biomedical Tissue Services. In fact, one Atlantic County physician is presently advising patients who may have received such transplants that due to the potential for contaminated products, they should be tested for a number of diseases, including HIV, hepatitis B and C, human T-cell lymphotrophic virus (HTLV I and II) and syphilis. However, it is not certain whether all county physicians are making the effort to notify their patients.
Patrick T. D’Arcy, a partner with the D’Arcy Law Firm and current President of the Atlantic County Bar Association, explained that his firm has received a number of calls from patients from around the country who have undergone surgery which involved bone and tissue grafts. In fact, his firm is actively investigating potential civil lawsuits related to these transplants and is encouraging patients who have received any transplant after October 2, 2003, to follow up with their physicians and hospitals to confirm that they are not at risk. Mr. D’Arcy explained that his firm intends to aggressively pursue claims on behalf of patients who may have been placed at risk due to this illegal tissue and bone horror story.
If you or a loved one may have bene impacted by this illegal bone and tissue scam, you should take steps to protect yourself. The D’Arcy Law Firm can help you learn whether you received an illegal bone or tissue product and protect your legal rights. Call us today for a free consultation at 1-866-DARCY-LAW (1-866-327-2952) or 609-748-3700.