Chapter 1: Understanding Body Brokers

In various regions across America, body brokers target financially strained families grappling with loss. They promise to cover the costs associated with final expenses in exchange for the majority of their loved ones' remains, all under the guise of scientific advancement.

One common sentiment I became familiar with during my own experiences with funeral homes is: “You can’t pass away without incurring expenses first.” This phrase resonates deeply when considering the exorbitant fees charged by funeral homes, especially for families living paycheck to paycheck. It is a universal truth that everyone will eventually confront the deathcare industry.

When misfortune strikes, such as a health crisis or a death in the family, these predatory practices become painfully apparent. The burden becomes even heavier when a low-income family faces the loss of a loved one whose insurance lapsed just prior.

My mother encountered a similar ordeal after the passing of her husband, Troy. His battle with illness left her with little time to prepare for the inevitable, and the financial implications were overwhelming. Shortly after Troy's burial, she faced the shocking reality of payment issues with the funeral director, who had a troubling reputation for disturbing graves over unpaid bills.

Fortunately, my mother was able to cover the costs, but the concern remains: What if resources were scarce? The funeral home in Mississippi could have exhumed Troy's remains, forcing my family to consider the services of a body broker as their last resort.

Body brokers are individuals or firms that operate without transplanting human tissues. Unlike the regulated organ donation and tissue transplant sectors, which are governed by federal law, the body broker business exists in a murky area known as whole-body donation. The sale of cadavers is permissible if the deceased or their family consents, but brokers often misrepresent their intentions, claiming to contribute solely to scientific progress.

To help those contemplating body donation, it’s crucial to investigate the operational practices of these brokers. Notably, the distinctions between for-profit and nonprofit organizations are significant, covering aspects such as funding sources, mission statements, staffing, and leadership structures.

For-profit body brokers rely on investor funding, which allows them to generate profits. Conversely, nonprofit organizations operate solely on donations without the expectation of financial return. The core intention also varies: for-profit brokers aim to supply non-tissue human remains for a fee, often renting cadavers to researchers or military organizations, while nonprofits focus on advancing medical education and research.

The motivations behind these brokers can be obscured during initial discussions, with many funeral directors unaware of the true nature of these organizations. Unfortunately, many brokers depend on a high volume of donations from economically disadvantaged individuals, often offering free cremation services to entice families.

This industry operates like a gamble; you might hope for scientific advancement but end up with a moral compromise. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the average cost of burying an adult was $9,135 in 2019, while cremation cost approximately $6,645.

This raises important questions about the ethics of the deathcare industry, particularly when considering its evident profitability despite the silent suffering of those it serves. In the U.S., the treatment of the deceased lacks any regulatory oversight, unlike the strict regulations governing organ and tissue sales. Alarmingly, no national registry exists for body brokers.

The rise of disturbing stories about brokers has led some medical professionals to liken these operations to grave robbers of the 19th century. With little regulation, untrained individuals can enter the field and mishandle human remains, often leading to grotesque situations where body parts are sold or rented multiple times for various uses.

One notorious case involved a funeral home in Montrose, Colorado, operated by Megan Hess and her mother, Shirley Koch. They ran a profitable side business reselling whole body donations from their establishment, Sunset Mesa Funeral Home.

Hess set up a user-friendly website for families to donate remains, but the process was far from transparent. Many families were left with urns containing not their loved ones' ashes but rather random materials like sand or concrete. Witnesses described the horror of receiving remains that were not their own, leading to a new layer of trauma for grieving families.

Despite being charged with fraud, the original charges did not address the maltreatment of bodies. Hess and Koch received reduced sentences after pleading guilty to lesser charges, allowing them to avoid accountability for the unethical practices that plagued their operations.

The troubling reality of the body broker industry exposes the moral dilemmas surrounding the deathcare system. The high costs associated with funerals juxtaposed with the unethical treatment of remains by body brokers raises serious ethical concerns.

Even in regions like Southern Nevada, complaints of foul odors and unsanitary conditions have emerged, revealing a darker side to the industry. Incidents involving improper handling of human remains have only added to the growing scrutiny of this business.

As the costs associated with deathcare continue to rise, it is essential for families to understand their options and the potential risks involved in body donation. While many may approach discussions of death with indifference, I urge everyone to reflect on the dignity that should accompany our final resting places. No one deserves to be exploited for profit, nor should their remains be treated without respect.

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