SENATE PASSES LEGISLATION TO PROHIBIT SALE OF BODY PARTS

 GOLDEN LEADS STATE SENATE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO PROHIBIT THE SALE OF
                               BODY PARTS

          URGES STATE ASSEMBLY TO APPROVE MEASURE TO CHANGE LAW

     Albany-  Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C, Brooklyn), is announcing that
New  York  State  Senate today passed legislation he sponsored, S.209, that
prohibits  the  sale or purchase of body parts in New York State punishable
by a Class E felony.

     Senator  Golden  stated, “Amid scandals involving the illegal buying,
selling  and  distribution  of  human  tissue by funeral homes and licensed
biomedical   companies,   deficiencies  in  the  current  law  have  become
increasingly  apparent. New York’s families have been forced to suffer even
greater   hardship   at  the  most  difficult  of  times  because  of  this
unconscionable  practice.  Removing  tissue,  skin,  organs  and bones from
bodies  before  embalming  without the permission of the deceased’s family,
and  then  selling the tissue illegally, must not continue to go on here in
New York.”

     Senator  Golden  continued,  “The  recent verdict in Brooklyn Supreme
Court,  by  Judge  Tomei,  sends  a  message  that  this  will no longer be
tolerated  in  New York State. This legislation will reduce the possibility
of such an atrocity from ever happening again and I urge the State Assembly
to  follow the State Senate’s lead and make the passage of this legislation
a  priority.   Knowing  that  we  must  protect  against  such  crimes from
happening,  New York State now has the responsibility to do something about
this  and insure the integrity and decency of the deceased and the families
who survive them.”

     The bill was sent to the Assembly.

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