Allegations of corrupt behavior are sadly nothing new in the Lubbock County medical examiner’s office. The latest accusations have many former employees and families coming forward, saying the current medical examiner, Dr. Sam Andrews, and the company that oversees the M.E.’s office, have been taking organs from children for research without the consent of parents. But now we’re taking a look back at the past issues that have plagued this county department.
Lubbock Co. medical examiner’s have been the source of many headlines over the past 30 years.
The first and maybe most notable is Dr. Ralph Erdman. In the early 90’s, he was accused of faking autopsy reports and then signing off on whatever police thought the cause of death was. Many of those cases were re-examined throughout the years because of the allegations.
His successor was Dr. Jerry Spencer. Spencer was accused of removing and keeping breast implants from bodies without permission. A co-worker of Spencers explained that his work was educational.
“We do have a responsibility to our trainees to demonstrate to them in those areas in which they will be exposed in the course of their medical career,” said Dr. Dale Dunn during a story from our archives.
Dr. Spencer retired on his own terms and Dr. Natarajan took over.
Dr. Natarajan hit scandal in 2015 after a former employee sued him after she was fired. In that lawsuit, Luisa Florez claims Natarajan allowed unqualified technicians to make evaluations for him, whichh could have changed the way autopsy reports stood up in court.
MORE: Lubbock M.E. Attacks Dr.’s Credibility in Whistle Blower Lawsuit
That lawsuit was eventually settled, but three years later, Dr. Natarajan abrubptly left the medical examiner position.
That brings us to the current controversey surrounding the medical examiner’s office. In August, county commissioners appointed Dr. Sam Andrews and the team over at NAAG Pathology Labs to help run the M.E.’s office. Both parties are accused of harvesting children’s organs from autopsies to use for research without the consent of parents.
“They took the brains, the spinal cord, the heart, the lungs, the eyeball,” said former employee Senee Graves. She filed a lawsuit against the medical examiner’s office after being fired for raising concerns about the alleged practices.
Several families have also come forward. You can watch their stories here.
MORE: Letter from ME gives instruction to harvest organs from child, family says no permission given
MORE:Fired employee sues, accuses medical examiner of acting like “body snatcher”
The Texas Rangers are currently investigating.
