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Medical school loses donated body
BY SOPHIA CHANG
Newsday Staff Writer
October 20, 2006
For the second time, Edward Foge is gone.
Before Foge died in 2000 at age 84, the telephone technician from New Hyde Park often told his wife, Velma, that he wanted his body to be used for medical research.
"One thing that Mr. Foge had said to his wife repeatedly was, 'When I die, I want my body donated because that's a great way to give back to medical science,'" said Kenneth Mollins, a Melville-based lawyer for Velma Foge.
So about a month after Foge's death, she spoke with a medical school in Old Westbury called the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, part of the New York Institute of Technology. Foge's body would be used at the college for up to two years, then cremated and the ashes returned to Velma Foge, according to a signed agreement with the school's anatomy department that was provided by Mollins.
But now the school cannot find Edward Foge's body.
"This is going back six years," said Jason Selss, a media relations manager for the college. "We can't locate the documentation, and it has been misplaced. We're aggressively investigating this unfortunate matter."
Velma Foge declined to be interviewed, but Mollins expressed incredulity. "How do you lose a whole body?" he said. "That has earmarks of improper disposal."
Mollins said that Velma Foge, 70, has been trying to locate her husband's remains since 2003, but she had difficulty reaching the school. But Selss said her first contact with the college was last month.
"We didn't hear from Mrs. Foge until mid-September," Selss said. "We acted immediately. Within two weeks, the dean did visit her at her home to apprise her of the situation."
The dean, Dr. Thomas Scandalis, has offered to establish a memorial scholarship in her husband's name, plant a tree or donate a plaque in his honor, Selss added.
Mollins has contacted the state Department of Health to see whether the college violated regulations. The school is a licensed non-transplant anatomical bank and required by the state to keep records for five years after using cadavers for education or research purposes.
"We are aware of this situation and we will be looking into it. We'll do a comprehensive review," said Claire Pospisil, a spokeswoman for the state Health Department.
Velma Foge has not taken legal action, Mollins said, and is waiting for answers.
"She said, 'At this point, I would feel very skeptical about receiving any ashes back because I would find it hard to believe it's him. The only thing I really want is to get him back,'" Mollins said.
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Dang, I go to NYCOM. All I know is that I didn't lose it.
BY SOPHIA CHANG
Newsday Staff Writer
October 20, 2006
For the second time, Edward Foge is gone.
Before Foge died in 2000 at age 84, the telephone technician from New Hyde Park often told his wife, Velma, that he wanted his body to be used for medical research.
"One thing that Mr. Foge had said to his wife repeatedly was, 'When I die, I want my body donated because that's a great way to give back to medical science,'" said Kenneth Mollins, a Melville-based lawyer for Velma Foge.
So about a month after Foge's death, she spoke with a medical school in Old Westbury called the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, part of the New York Institute of Technology. Foge's body would be used at the college for up to two years, then cremated and the ashes returned to Velma Foge, according to a signed agreement with the school's anatomy department that was provided by Mollins.
But now the school cannot find Edward Foge's body.
"This is going back six years," said Jason Selss, a media relations manager for the college. "We can't locate the documentation, and it has been misplaced. We're aggressively investigating this unfortunate matter."
Velma Foge declined to be interviewed, but Mollins expressed incredulity. "How do you lose a whole body?" he said. "That has earmarks of improper disposal."
Mollins said that Velma Foge, 70, has been trying to locate her husband's remains since 2003, but she had difficulty reaching the school. But Selss said her first contact with the college was last month.
"We didn't hear from Mrs. Foge until mid-September," Selss said. "We acted immediately. Within two weeks, the dean did visit her at her home to apprise her of the situation."
The dean, Dr. Thomas Scandalis, has offered to establish a memorial scholarship in her husband's name, plant a tree or donate a plaque in his honor, Selss added.
Mollins has contacted the state Department of Health to see whether the college violated regulations. The school is a licensed non-transplant anatomical bank and required by the state to keep records for five years after using cadavers for education or research purposes.
"We are aware of this situation and we will be looking into it. We'll do a comprehensive review," said Claire Pospisil, a spokeswoman for the state Health Department.
Velma Foge has not taken legal action, Mollins said, and is waiting for answers.
"She said, 'At this point, I would feel very skeptical about receiving any ashes back because I would find it hard to believe it's him. The only thing I really want is to get him back,'" Mollins said.
______________
Dang, I go to NYCOM. All I know is that I didn't lose it.
