Regents apologize for UCLA body part scandal
The UC Board of Regents apologized last week for the emotional pain the Willed Body Program scandal at UCLA caused families of donors and announced the steps they have taken to ensure it will not happen again.
The apology came after Henry Reid, the director of the UCLA Willed Body Program, was arrested on March 6 on suspicion of illegally selling parts of donated cadavers to Ernest Nelson, who was arrested on charges of knowingly receiving stolen property.
The university has taken several steps to begin reforming the program. These steps include the creation of a task force – headed by former California Gov. George Deukmejian and including Michael Drake, UC vice president for health affairs – which will soon begin to review the program.
Robert Dynes, president of the University of California, said the university “deeply and sincerely regrets” the corruption in the willed body programs. Dynes said he expects the review will lead to concrete evidence that he hopes will restore trust in the programs.
UCLA Chancellor Albert Carnesale outlined steps that UCLA is taking to put the program back on track.
Carnesale said the list of UCLA’s other actions, which is “neither exhausted or final,” includes working with the university police, FBI and other law enforcement agencies, creating an inventory of remains to make sure they are properly cared for, and setting up an e-mail hotline to respond to calls from families involved in the program.
“We will find out what went wrong with these programs,” Carnesale said, adding that he would be involved in the reform.
Other regents see their role as either working with or overseeing the actions being taken by UCLA, and UC Regent Joanne Kozberg said the regents are working together with UCLA on an “in-depth inquiry.”
Regent Velma Montoya said the regents’ role remains one of oversight, as the UC Office of the President and UCLA work together on the inquiry.
Before they addressed the public, the regents held a closed session in which they discussed litigation and how to control the willed body programs, said Lavonne Luquis, spokeswoman for the UC Office of the President.
Reports from Adam Foxman, Bruin staff.