A group of families has accused the University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System (UAB) of engaging in organ harvesting, and they are now demanding that Governor Kay Ivey, Attorney General Steve Marshall, and the FBI investigate their allegations. Although they have filed civil lawsuits in state court, they believe that criminal investigations are necessary to uncover the truth behind their claims.
Eight months ago, the ABC 33/40 News I-Team uncovered a story regarding autopsies of state inmates who had passed away at UAB’s Department of Pathology. The investigation revealed that some organs were missing, taken without the knowledge or consent of the families of the deceased.
On Tuesday, a Montgomery judge presided over a status hearing for the consolidated civil lawsuits brought by six families. Plaintiff attorneys anticipate adding more cases to the ongoing litigation. The defendants named in the lawsuits include John Q. Hamm, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Corrections, University of Alabama System, University of Alabama Health Services Foundation, and the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees.
After the hearing, the attorneys representing the defendants refrained from commenting on the case. However, during the court proceedings, they hinted at filing motions to dismiss the charges citing immunity claims.
According to Lauren Faraino, the plaintiff attorney, the government has been repeatedly attempting to shift the blame, cover up the truth, and avoid collaborating with those affected to uncover answers. She further added that it was only after some courageous medical students stepped up and exposed the situation that it came to light.
We are absolutely outraged. We want the DOJ, the governor, the legislatures to listen to us,” remarked Simone Moore.
“We won’t stop until the Alabama Department of Corrections takes necessary action,” he declared.
According to Attorney Michael Strikland, the attorney general’s office should be supportive in a case like this. He stated that in a situation where illegal organ harvesting is taking place, one would expect the state to intervene. However, in this case, the government is opposing our efforts, as Strickland explained.
Strickland raised an important concern about entities that take cover behind layers and claim immunity. The issue is that they can engage in illegal activities and avoid legal repercussions by hiding behind a government agency. As Strickland puts it, “Do we want individuals to hide behind a government agency and commit illegal acts and say wait I can’t get in trouble for it?” This begs the question of whether such entities should be allowed to use their immunity as a shield to protect themselves from the fallout of their illegal actions.
According to Strickland, uncovering concrete evidence of any misdeeds may prove to be a challenge, but there is hope that individuals involved may come forward with the truth.
According to family members, criminal charges should be pursued in cases where organs were removed without consent. In fact, during the previous legislative session, a state bill that aimed to add criminal penalties for medical examiners who conducted unauthorized organ removals was passed by the house. However, it failed to move forward in the state senate, leaving many unsatisfied with the current legal measures.
Currently, ADOC has not enlisted the services of another agency to conduct autopsies, resulting in several inmate deaths remaining shrouded in mystery.
