Teen’s Brain on Display Without Parents’ Permission

Seventeen-year-old Jesse Shipley was killed in a car accident in 2005. After the autopsy, his body was released to his family for burial. Two months later, after a high school field trip to the morgue, Jesse’s family found out that the morgue kept Jesse’s brain in a jar on display without notifying them.

Jesse’s family had Jesse exhumed and body parts were sewn back into the corpse before a second burial took place. Jesse’s parents are now suing the city for damages and to make sure that this never happens again. If the morgue informed them “that an organ was being held for later testing, they might have delayed the funeral, instead of having two.”

Family Suing NYC After Teen’s Brain Found in ME’s Office, CBS News, Oct. 4, 2010.