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Officials investigating burial of body parts |
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Written by DeadGirl
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Sunday, 27 February 2005 |
Associated Press
State officials and the Catholic Diocese of Peoria are investigating a central Illinois hospital for allegedly using a Catholic cemetery to bury body parts, which -- without proper permission -- is against state law and diocesan policy.
The investigation stems from a lawsuit filed earlier this month by Thomas and Carolyn Pichon after they saw a cemetery worker toss a box of medical waste into their loved one's open grave at Danville's Resurrection Catholic Cemetery.
Provena United Samaritans Medical Center in Danville apparently used the cemetery to bury body parts for many years, said Illinois Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman Maggie Carson.
The state investigation, which began Tuesday, is expected to end next week, she said.
Under state law, medical waste must be sterilized to prevent the possible spread of disease, Carson said. A public health permit is required to bury a body part, she said, but the hospital had not obtained proper permits.
Provena spokeswoman Gretchen Wesner said Friday hospital officials believe they obtained the necessary permits and permissions.
According to a hospital statement, Provena stopped burying remains in 2003 "out of concern over allegations now being raised in the lawsuit." The hospital, which is not a defendant in the complaint, said it now uses a medical materials disposal company.
The Pichons' lawsuit claims on Feb. 12, 2003, the day Thomas Pichon's father, Homer Pichon, was buried, the rural Danville couple saw a cemetery worker throw a box into Homer Pichon's open grave after the casket was lowered.
Cemetery worker Robert Kariba "proceeded to 'stomp' or 'jump' on" the box after throwing it into the grave, the court papers state.
When the Pichons asked Kariba what was in the box, the suit claims he said it contained human body parts from surgeries and amputations at Provena.
"They're very upset. This is obviously something they've wrestled with," said the Pichons' attorney Gerald Rodeen.
The Pichons are seeking at least $50,000 in damages for emotional distress from Kariba and from Resurrection Catholic Cemetery Association, which operates the cemetery. Cemetery superintendent Bill Schingel referred all questions to the diocese.
A public telephone listing for Kariba could not be found. A woman reached by phone Friday identified herself as his mother and referred all questions to the diocese.
It was not immediately determined whether Kariba had an attorney.
According to the Peoria diocese, it oversees 128 cemeteries, and most are owned and operated by parishes and other Catholic institutions. The cemeteries must follow diocese rules, which prohibit burying uncremated amputated body parts without permission from the diocese's Director of Cemeteries.
http://www.pantagraph.com/stories/022605/new_20050226015.shtml
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