Kidney theft

[okarol]

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

Kidney stolen from 'Bodies' exhibition

Wednesday, January 3, 2007


Seattle police are investigating the theft of a kidney from "Bodies ... The Exhibition" -- the collection of preserved human corpses on display at 800 Pike St.

An exhibit manager called police Saturday to report that someone walked away with the organ from a counter where it had been on display with a liver for customers to see and touch, according to police reports.

"Bodies" is a popular, yet controversial, exhibit of 21 cadavers and 250 organs preserved through "plastination," or a process in which the specimens are injected with liquid silicone rubber. Many of the bodies are dissected or sliced into sections with their innards open for viewing.

The kidney was from a child's body and is valued at $1,000, according to police reports. A security camera may have filmed the thief at the counter, police reports say.

"Bodies" recently extended its run through April 1.

URL: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/298174_localbriefs03.html

[Sluff]

Like it's going to do the thief any good. 

[jbeany]

I say when they catch the thief, they make the punishment fit the crime.  Who wants a kidney?   

[Sara]

Of all the stupid things to steal!   

By the way, has anyone seen those exhibits?  I've seen pics of the cross-sections just the thought of it grosses me out, and I can handle a lot. 

[Zach]

I'd be glad to give them one of my kidneys.

[vandie]

I saw the exhibit in New York.  It was incredible.  Nothing gross about it.  It had healthy and diseased organs, just about every one in the body.  Very interesting stuff.

[kitkatz]

My daughter and I went to exhibit when it was in Los Angeles.  Fascinating things to see.  I was amazed at the amounts of veins we have in our bodies and how they could show it to us with the plastination.  Of course my daughter offered me up for a science project while we were there, but luckily no takers!

[Sluff]

My daughter and I went to exhibit when it was in Los Angeles.  Fascinating things to see.  I was amazed at the amounts of veins we have in our bodies and how they could show it to us with the plastination.  Of course my daughter offered me up for a science project while we were there, but luckily no takers!

To complicated even for the best of them I bet!

[kitkatz]

 

[okarol]

I still think there's a market here for used kidneys...

$10,000 for a kidney? Wait, there's a catch


Saturday, January 06, 2007
The Oregonian

It's normally against the law to sell human organs. But an Atlanta company will pay $10,000 for one very special kidney.

Last Saturday, someone swiped an adult kidney from "Bodies. . . The Exhibition." The popular anatomy show, at 800 Pike in Seattle, displays whole and dissected human bodies preserved in plastic.

"There's one room that has a table -- kind of like at the aquarium where you can touch starfish, same idea -- where you can touch a few of the organs," exhibit spokeswoman Christy Luther said. "The docent manning the booth turned away for a second."

This is the first time an item has been stolen from the exhibit, which has been seen by about 2 million people worldwide.

Luther's not sure what a thief wants with the croissant-sized kidney. Since it's dead and plastic, it can't be transplanted (and poses no health risks). But the show's organizer, Atlanta-based Premier Exhibitions, rents the organs from a Chinese medical school. And they'd really like their kidney back.

There's one catch: The thief. The 10 grand is for the organ's return and prosecution of the kidneynapper. If you have information, call Seattle Police, who are on the case, at 206-625-5011.

-- Andy Dworkin

URL: http://www.oregonlive.com/metro/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1168055716178770.xml&coll=7

[okarol]

Tip leads police to stolen human kidney

Fri Feb 23, 1:25 PM ET

A human kidney stolen from an exhibit of preserved bodies and organs was recovered after two months, thanks to an anonymous tip, police said.

Police interviewed and released a 26-year-old Tacoma man about the case and were waiting for prosecutors to decide whether to bring charges, Officer Jeffery R. Kappel said. Police declined to say why the kidney was taken or where it had been kept.

The organ disappeared Dec. 30 from "Bodies ... The Exhibition," which features 20 cadavers and 260 other parts preserved with a process that replaces human tissue with silicone rubber. Skin is removed, exposing muscles, bones, organs, tendons, blood vessels and brains.

The kidney was part of an interactive area where visitors can touch some body parts.

The exhibit, which runs through April 29, is one of several being shown around the world. The displays have drawn protests in Seattle and elsewhere because the Chinese citizens whose cadavers and body parts were used never agreed to let their remains be displayed.

It was unclear whether anyone would claim a $10,000 reward offered in January by Premier Exhibitions Inc. of Atlanta for the kidney's return. Police were holding the kidney as evidence.

The theft was the first from a "Bodies" display, a Premier Exhibitions spokeswoman said.

___

On the Net:

http://www.bodiestheexhibition.com

URL http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070223/ap_on_re_us/corpse_show_theft_3

[jedimaster]

Now they tell me that it won´t work!....it looked sooooo real....I guess I´ll give it back....