Harvard University has agreed to pay $53 million (about Rwf78.1 billion) to settle lawsuits brought by families who accused the institution of mishandling and exploiting the remains of their loved ones donated to Harvard Medical School for educational and research purposes.
The settlement, which still requires approval by a Boston court, follows a scandal involving Cedric Lodge, a former manager of the morgue at Harvard Medical School, who admitted to stealing and illegally selling human body parts.
Lodge, 58, was accused of removing body parts from donated remains and selling them online between 2018 and 2021.
Harvard Medical School said that, if the settlement is approved, a multimillion-dollar fund will be established to compensate families affected by the scandal.
Lodge and six other people who were allegedly involved in the illegal trade, but had no connection to Harvard University, were charged with related offences. All of them pleaded guilty in 2025.
Prosecutors said Lodge abused his position as manager of the Anatomical Gifts Program, removing body parts from donated remains that had been provided to Harvard Medical School for medical education and research.
The donated bodies are used by medical students to study human anatomy and develop practical skills. After the educational use is completed, the remains are generally cremated, with the ashes either returned to families or buried at the medical school’s cemetery.
Court documents allege that Lodge and his wife sold human remains to individuals in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Lodge was sentenced to eight years in prison, while his wife received a sentence of one year and one day.
Harvard was hit with several civil lawsuits in 2023 after families alleged that the university had known about Lodge’s misconduct for years but failed to take appropriate action.
Although the lawsuits were initially dismissed, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court later revived them, paving the way for the settlement.
In a letter signed by Harvard Medical School officials George Daley and Bernard Chang, the university described Lodge’s actions as deeply shameful and inconsistent with the standards expected in handling donated remains and respecting the families who made the donations.
Harvard Medical School also said it plans to establish an annual scholarship beginning in the 2027–2028 academic year for medical students, as a way of honouring and recognising people who donated their bodies for medical education.
The settlement marks a significant step in Harvard’s efforts to address the consequences of the scandal and rebuild trust with families who entrust their loved ones’ remains to medical institutions for education and research.
KIGALI TIMES