Human Tissue and Body Parts

Summary

The Human Tissue and Body Parts market consists of the buying and selling of body parts taken from human cadavers. The supply of body parts are  taken from bodies that are either donated to medical schools and other organizations, or stolen  from  morgues and cremation centers.   As USA Today reported in 2006, " unscrupulous employees at medical universities and similar organizations have taken bodies and removed spines, ears, heads and fingernails, which they have sold for personal profit." ¹ 

Market Value:
$6 Million

Source:   Stephanie Armour, " Donated bodies sometimes are sold for personal profit," USA TODAY, April 27, 2006, http://www.usatoday.com/money/2006-04-27-body-parts-sold_x.htm (accessed: March 9, 2007).