Martina Keller

Tissue Trade

Can recycling humans always be justified?

Is human tissue always better? Germany's leading experts say "No."

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Part four

Abusing the 'Gift' of Tissue Donation

PART FOUR: In the brave new world of tissue harvesting, the dead’s bones, skin, tendons and heart valves can be cut out and used to create medical devices that can be sold for profit around the world.

Part three

Traceability Elusive in Global Trade of Human Parts

PART THREE: Poor accountability and inadequate safeguards prompt concerns among medical experts that products made from tissues taken from the dead could spread disease to the living.

Part two

Body Brokers Leave Trail of Questions, Corruption

PART TWO: Police in Hungary, Ukraine and the U.S. allege that tissue suppliers stole tissue and committed fraud and forgery in the drive to supply the industry with flesh and bone.

Video: Skin and Bone

The business of recycling dead humans into medical implants is a little-known yet lucrative trade. But its practices have roused concerns about how tissues are obtained and how well grieving families and transplant patients are informed about the realities and the risks.

Read the full investigation at www.icij.org/tissue.

Los cadáveres humanos son el botín en una búsqueda global de ganancias

La industria ha florecido aun cuando sus prácticas han despertado preocupación sobre cómo obtiene los tejidos y qué tan bien informadas están las familias y los pacientes de trasplantes sobre las realidades y riesgos del negocio.

Human Corpses are Prize in Global Drive for Profits

OVERVIEW: The business of recycling dead humans into medical implants has flourished. But its practices have roused concerns about how tissues are obtained and how well grieving families and transplant patients are informed about the realities and risks.