In a shocking turn of events, a Las Vegas chiropractor, Obteen Nassiri, has been exposed for running an unethical body business selling human cadavers from a strip mall next to a tattoo parlor. Nassiri, who had his chiropractor’s license revoked in 2014 for professional misconduct, including defrauding insurance companies, ventured into the underregulated human body trade to make a profit.
The Unethical Trade
Nassiri’s company, Med Ed Labs, engaged in buying and leasing corpses from funeral homes and medical schools, then selling and leasing them for training and medical research purposes. Despite the illegal nature of selling organs for transplants in the US, there are no laws prohibiting the sale of human remains for education or research, creating a legal loophole for Nassiri to exploit.
Scandal Unveiled
The scandal came to light in October 2021 when the body of David Saunders, a 98-year-old Army veteran who donated his body to science, was used for a pay-per-view dissection at an expo in Oregon. His widow expressed outrage, stating she only consented to the donation for scientific purposes, not for public display. Med Ed Labs claimed ignorance of the intended use of Saunders’ body, leading to a public outcry.
Legal Loopholes
While funeral directors can face discipline for mishandling bodies, body brokers like Med Ed Labs operate without state standards or regulations. Nevada passed a law in 2019 to regulate these businesses, but five years later, the State Board of Health is still finalizing proposed standards. Despite facing bankruptcy in March, Nassiri’s involvement in a new body broker business, Surgical & Medical Training Services, raises questions about continued exploitation of legal loopholes.
In interviews, Nassiri has denied any wrongdoing, despite the mounting evidence of unethical practices within the human body trade. The lack of oversight and regulation in this industry highlights the urgent need for stricter laws to protect the dignity and ethical treatment of human remains.
Now, imagine a loved one’s body being exploited for profit without your knowledge or consent. The emotional distress and betrayal felt by families like Saunders’ widow shed light on the dark side of the human body trade. This scandal serves as a stark reminder of the importance of ethical standards and regulations to prevent such egregious practices from recurring. Let us reflect on the implications of unchecked greed and exploitation in the pursuit of profit, and advocate for stronger oversight to safeguard the integrity of human remains.
