Biological Resource Center of Illinois (“BRCI”) always conducted the donation process
according to its strict ethical standards and in compliance with the Illinois Uniform Anatomical
Gift Act. As part of this process, BRCI and its employees always informed donors or donor
next-of-kin that their donation of anatomical material was intended for use in scientific and
medical research or education. Each donor or donor next-of-kin completed and signed a
Document of Gift Authorization form, a concise one to two-page document that plainly and
unequivocally discloses that dissection and dismemberment are part of the donation process, and
that donated tissue would be distributed to research and educational institutions and
organizations. These documents, coupled with the oral explanations regarding the donation
process and what it entailed provided prior to the donations, straightforwardly communicated to
donors the nature of the donation, the manner in which the donated tissue would be used, and
that the donated tissue would be distributed to medical and scientific research and education
organizations. The Document of Gift Authorization form also informed donors that they could
revoke the donation at any time prior to donation. [We have attached here a redacted Document
of Gift Authorization form for illustrative purposes.] As a consequence, BRCI believes there is
no basis for any misunderstandings about the donation process and what it entailed.
The claim that BRCI “sold” donated anatomical material is false. As a for-profit entity, BRCI
charged fees that are associated with the tissue recovery process, including costs of recovery,
testing, preparation, disposition, quality control and storage of the anatomical material as well as
other services like return of the cremated remains to donor families. The services provided by
BRCI included cremation of the donor remains, the respectful storage and return of that material,
maintenance of a memorial garden where families could choose to recognize their loved ones,
and various other services, all of which were provided free of charge to the donor and donor
families. These services were absorbed by BRCI in addition to the costs associated with
maintaining a front office and facility that provided these services, and employing a professional
staff to arrange for donations, interface with donors, manage a willed body donor program, and
comply with the myriad regulations that apply to these services. BRCI’s practice of charging a
fee for anatomical material strictly complies with the Illinois Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, and
also is totally consistent with other transplant and non-transplant tissue bank and donation
programs in the United States.
Finally, with respect to BRCI’s involvement with other non-transplant tissue banks and donation
programs, including those organizations named Biological Resource Center of Arizona and
International Biological, Inc., BRCI stresses that, while it had episodic business relationships
with these organizations, it operated independently of them. For example, BRCI obtained
anatomical material that originated with Biological Resource Center of Arizona in order to fulfill
requests and meet the demand for anatomical material by medical and research organizations that
BRCI could not independently satisfy due to under-supply. Furthermore, BRCI periodically
provided donated tissue to International Biological, Inc., an organization that represented itself as
one dedicated to furthering medical and scientific research. BRCI did not control, influence, or
direct the operation of these organizations. BRCI had no knowledge of any improper
distribution or misuse of tissue donated for medical and research purposes, by either Biological
Resource Center of Arizona or International Biological, Inc. or any other organization. BRCI
has always held itself to the highest ethical and professional standards and does not, and never
has, condoned the distribution or use of donated anatomical material in contravention of the
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Illinois Uniform Anatomical Gift Act and the Document of Gift Authorization Forms that BRCI
donors or donor’s next-of-kin completed.
What is unfortunately lost in the discussion of the ongoing government investigation is that body
donation is a noble, altruistic act without which the significant advancements made in
arthroscopy and other areas over the last twenty years would not have been possible. Medical
schools and medical scientists and practitioners rely on the generosity of donors and donor
families and the work of BRCI and other organizations in this arena, and owe the success of their
programs to those involved in facilitating the providing of well-maintained and useful anatomical
material. BRCI has been a respected and preeminent participant in the medical research industry
in the non-transplant anatomical donation space. BRCI has been a leader in the area of
compliance with and development of industry standards for non-transplant tissue banks.
Significantly, BRCI was regularly audited by various accrediting bodies, including the American
Association of Tissue Banks—the recognized leader in setting standards for transplant and nontransplant tissue banks—and the New York State Department of Health, and BRCI was one of
the few out-of-state tissue banks licensed to distribute non-transplant tissue in the State of New
York. BRCI was also routinely audited by several private and governmental bodies, and
remained in good stead with all.
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