Nine cadavers left behind at defunct Innovative Spinal Technologies

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2009/06/02/news/5059166.txt

Nine cadavers left behind at defunct Mansfield company

Even in an economic crisis, some bankruptcies are more gruesome than others.

Innovative Spinal Technologies filed for protection under Chapter 7 of the federal bankruptcy code last month listing, among other things, nine human cadavers among its property.

The company, which made devices for minimally invasive back surgery, shut down in February. Part of the companys headquarters on Forbes Boulevard included an operating suite used to train doctors in the use of the medical devices and two freezers to hold partial cadavers. The filing in federal Bankruptcy Court listed the bodies — eight previously used — under a list of items that poses or is alleged to pose a threat of imminent and identifiable harm to the public health or safety.

A federal bankruptcy trustee overseeing the case said there is no danger to the public, however.

The filing said that if the electricity were turned off to the building, the cadavers and tissue samples contained in the freezers would defrost and pose a significant health threat to anyone entering the surgical suite that has not been immunized and wearing appropriate disposal attire. All of the medical samples are completely contained in the surgical suite and labeled as a biohazard, the filing said.
Mansfield health agent Scott Leite said the towns health department does not regulate such waste in medical facilities, which come under the supervision of the state Department of Health.

Besides the nine partial bodies, the company is also in possession of 20 human and animal tissue samples, five biohazard containers containing disposable surgical instruments and sharp instruments, a box with unknown contents labeled as a biohazard and four empty cadaver boxes that contain visible signs of blood on the exterior.

Department of Public Health officials could not be reached immediately.

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