Selling diseased remains, US-based organ broker guilty of fraud

Selling diseased remains, US-based organ broker guilty of fraud (Central News Agency, Washington, 22nd comprehensive foreign news report) A businessman in Detroit, the United States, who has rented and sold donated organs for 20 years...

(Central News Agency, Washington, 22nd comprehensive foreign news report) A businessman in Detroit, the United States, who has rented and sold donated organs for 20 years, sold diseased body parts to medical clients. He was convicted of fraud today and faces up to 20 years in prison.

Reuters reported that the market for human body parts in the United States is mostly unregulated. As federal authorities stepped up a nationwide investigation, they discovered that Arthur Rathburn was suspected of selling diseased body parts. When federal agents raided Rathbun's warehouse in 2013, they were shocked to see horrifying scenes, including human body parts frozen into chunks.

The "Sacramento Bee" reported that body parts were found piled up in the freezer and stored next to food. There were piles of insects in the warehouse and the floor was stained with blood. These are just the tip of the iceberg in this corpse factory. Prosecutors said that there were still human remains infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B in the warehouse, and human heads, torsos and other parts were stored waiting to be sold.

But according to the "Detroit News" (Detroit News), prosecutors stated that the buyers were medical professionals who purchased body parts for training and research without knowing that the bodies were infected.

Existing U.S. law only regulates body parts used for transplantation, such as hearts and livers. Buying and selling body parts for research and education, like Rathbun's venture, is legal under U.S. law. Rathbun was charged with fraud for selling body parts infected with HIV and hepatitis to customers without their knowledge.

Rathburn’s ex-wife and business partner Elizabeth Rathburn testified that they purchased human body parts from companies that encourage people to donate their bodies for scientific research. She testified that in order to increase profits, Rathbun sometimes purchased infected bodies and body parts; they did not want to lose money, so they lied to customers. The remains are sold cheaply because few medical institutions want to use them for training or education.

Elizabeth pleaded guilty to fraud and cooperated with prosecutors in the investigation. Rathbun faces up to 20 years in prison, but federal sentencing guidelines that judges must consider generally call for a shorter sentence. A judge is expected to sentence both men in the spring. (Translator: Zhang Xiaowen/Verification: Lu Yingzi) 1070123