A human body donation centre at a university in Paris has temporarily closed while a government investigation into its conduct is carried out, reports BBC News. Thousands of bodies were left to decay in unsanitary conditions at The Centre for Body Donations at Paris-Descartes University, reports say. Some bodies and body parts were reportedly sold to private companies, it is alleged.
According to BBC, the revelations were first reported by French newspaper L’Express. An investigation by the paper said dozens of bodies were stored "nude, decomposing, piled up on gurneys, with their eyes wide open". The paper described the centre as "a mass grave in the heart of Paris".
The report says the university has acknowledged the investigation and apologised to the families of body donors. "Paris-Descartes University wishes to apologise to families about this situation," it said. "The university wishes to clarify and reaffirms its full commitment to the dignity of donors and their families."
The French Union for Free Medicine (UFML) said it would file a complaint. The president of the union, Jerome Marty, told franceinfo the case bought the medical profession into disrepute.
Paris-Descartes University said the facility would remain closed until France's Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation has conducted an inspection. The investigation would "establish the reality of the facts", the university said.
[link url="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50587641"]BBC News report[/link]