Funeral home director disputes report

In a written statement to the Montrose Daily Press, Hess, on Wednesday, said the Reuters story, “FBI scrutinizes funeral home running a side business: selling human body parts,” had tried to “tarnish” her reputation.

“ … the funeral home and Donor Services have never received any written or verbal communication from the FBI or any other federal authorities regarding the business and its practices,” Hess said.

“The FBI is not providing comment as (to) your inquiry,” agency spokeswoman Amy Sanders told the Montrose Daily Press when it asked for confirmation of an investigation.

Neither the FBI nor a state-level agency has contacted the Montrose Police Department about an investigation, Cmdr. Gene Lillard said last week.

“We had no knowledge they were conducting an investigation,” he said.

Colorado’s Department of Regulatory Agencies regulates funeral homes, but not body donation services.

Spokesman Lee Rasizer said there are nine open complaints filed against Sunset Mesa with the Office of Funeral and Crematory Registration, but the investigation of these has not concluded, so no public documentation is available.

By law, the Office of Funeral and Crematory Registration “does not discuss ongoing administrative investigations conducted in furtherance of its statutory authority to protect the public health, welfare and safety,” Rasizer said in an email.

Sunset Mesa’s licenses for its funeral home and its crematory show active status and “there is no discipline or board actions on file” for the credentials, according to an online search through DORA’s licensee information page.

No adverse action has been taken.

Hess in her Wednesday statement said Donor Services registered voluntarily with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

“Annual contact and previous inspections by the FDA ensures that the program is operating under their (FDA) professional guidelines. No concerns or citations have ever been issued by the FDA,” the statement says.

Human tissues donated for research and educational purposes are not regulated by the FDA, though individual states may regulate those types of donations, the agency said in an emailed response to questions.

The donation of organs and tissues intended for transplant are regulated by the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research as human cells, tissues, or cellular and tissue-based products, or HCT/Ps.

Examples of HCT/Ps include bone, skin, corneas, ligaments, tendons and heart valves. The FDA does not regulate transplants of vascularized organs, such as kidneys, livers, hearts, lungs or pancreases. The Health Resources Services Administration oversees such transplantations.

“Donor Services of Montrose, Colorado, was previously registered as an HCT/P establishment, but is currently listed as inactive, FDA spokeswoman Angela Stark said in an email.

“The last annual registration year was 2011. It was last inspected on May 14, 2012 and that inspection was classified as NAI (no action indicated),” Stark advised.

“The FDA is a voluntary registration for facilities that are for research,” Hess further explained. “The FDA makes contact with me annually to-date to ensure my facility does not require another type of registration.”

Hess in her statement also said though Colorado does not have educational requirements for funeral directors, she has “several diplomas, certificates and other continuing education documents displayed,” along with letters, cards and tokens of thanks from client families.

She did not provide details about the certifications, but reiterated there are no educational requirements in Colorado to be a funeral director, and that her funeral home and crematory both have current, active licenses through the state.

Hess on Wednesday welcomed the Montrose Daily Press to her funeral home, but declined an in-person interview, explaining she was working on responding to questions sent in response to her written statement. She allowed photographs to be taken in and outside the property.

Hess in further email communication explained some of her business practices.

“Donor Services does not charge for any donation, only the disposition of the remains (burial or cremation), following donation through a funeral home,” she said.

Donated remains go to medical education facilitators that study with universities, colleges and researchers, she said.

“The donation is made voluntarily without obligation of any kind. The donation process is made very clear during the time of arrangements,” Hess said, in response to a question asking whether Donor Services is compensated for providing donated remains and if this is disclosed.

Entities such as Colorado Mesa University’s Forensic Investigation Research Station use donated remains for study. CMU has its own policies and procedures for such donations.

The Reuters series probes what it calls “body brokers,” but CMU would “never buy” donated remains from such an entity, said Melissa Connor, Ph.D., director of the research station.

“Similarly, we would never consider selling to a body broker, and, given the wording on our donation paperwork, I am sure that would not be legal,” she said, in an emailed response to questions last week.

Again, CMU has its own policies for the donations of human remains for purposes of study.

Its website advises the university does not return donated remains for final disposition, because skeletal remains are important for the research and training conducted at the research station, informally known as a “body farm.”

CMU reserves the right to refuse donations of those who had infectious diseases or who exceed the weights the university’s equipment can handle.

CMU will transport bodies from within 75 miles of Grand Junction; outside this area, the donors’ survivors must arrange and pay for transport.

Questions directed to a local forensic pathologist concerning the use of donated remains were referred to the University of Colorado School of Medicine - Cell and Developmental Biology and State Anatomical Board.

The State Anatomical Board’s representative had not returned phone messages as of Wednesday.

Officials from other Montrose-area funeral homes, other than Sunset Mesa, said they were not involved in the procurement of donated human remains for study.

“We want to serve our families the best we can,” said Greg Crippin of Crippin Funeral Home.

Taylor Funeral Home’s Chalmer Swain said the business only operates mortuary and crematory.

Rose Memorial Parlour does not procure donated human remains for research, either, director Matthew Boyle said. Most funeral homes do work with organizations such as Donor Alliance to harvest organs and tissues that will be transplanted into the living, he explained, but that is different from non-transplant tissue banking.

Hess in her statement indicated Donor Services provides an important option for people.

“Without donation, there is no research, and without research, there is no cure,” she said.

Such donations enable medical professionals to learn about the processes and effects of disease and to develop new surgical skills and procedures, Hess said.

“With the generous support of our donors, Donor Services has been, and will continue to provide this invaluable service to those who need the resources necessary to further the education of medical communities and the continued education of new and exciting surgical procedures that are on the horizon,” she said.

The Reuters report has “devastated” her, Hess also said.

“I have worked tirelessly in Western Colorado for more than 15 years to proudly serve my community as a funeral director. Donation is an option for families, just like burial or cremation.

“It has been devastating to read such false statements about my business and character. I want the community to know that I am standing strong and will not let anyone interfere with my mission. I want to thank my clients, colleagues and my family for your support. Your visits, phone calls, texts and emails have meant so much.”

Katharhynn Heidelberg is an award-winning journalist and the senior writer for the Montrose Daily Press. Follow her on Twitter @kathMDP.