In the 20th century, people could go to a city expo and see the Great Houdini perform magic tricks or Babe Ruth hammer baseballs.

This year, those attending the Oddities and Curiosities Expo in Portland, Oregon witnessed a retired anatomy professor conduct an autopsy on a cadaver. The live event was hosted by Death Science in a hotel ballroom in October, and tickets went for as much as $500. Neither the deceased nor his family gave permission for his body to be exhibited. What's more: he died from COVID-19, and potentially exposed attendees.

The body of David Saunders, 98, was given to a Baton Rouge, Louisiana funeral home after he died earlier this year. The body was then handed over to Med Ed Labs, a for-profit medical body broker based in Las Vegas, because his family asked for his corpse to be donated to science.

Med Ed Labs sold the cadaver to Death Science. Colin Henderson, a former University of Montana anatomy professor, conducted the autopsy over a few hours. It is unclear how many students or other medical personnel were in attendance.

"We will be observing a forensic autopsy on a full human cadaver. Death Science's medical professionals will be guiding us through a formal autopsy. From the external body exam to the removal of vital organs including the brain, we will find new perspectives on how the human body can tell a story. There will be several opportunities for attendees to get an up close and personal look at the cadaver," an event description stated.

Med Ed Labs did not expect Death Science to use the cadaver in this manner, the company said in a statement emailed to MedPage Today on Friday. Death Science "deceived us repeatedly stating the donor they requested would be utilized solely for educational anatomical dissection instructing academic students, paramedics, and personnel within forensic pathology fields. We had absolutely no prior knowledge that any donor provided by our network of surgical facilities would be used as part of the 'Oddities Expo' and explicitly no knowledge that people would be paying to attend a show," the company wrote.

"We were then utterly dismayed and horrified to hear from the Washington and Multnomah County (Oregon) Medical Examiners later in October that they had investigated Death Science and found the entity to be fraudulently representing itself as an accredited collegiate training program qualified in forensic pathology providing law enforcement Death Investigation Certificates," Med Ed Labs continued.

However, Death Science disputed this. Med Ed Labs was aware of the plans, Jeremy Ciliberto, Death Science founder and online personality, told KING 5. He called it "an educational event ... that allows the students to explore the body in a much more intimate way" and de-stigmatizes death. "This is not a sideshow. This is very professional."

Wrote Med Ed Labs: "All protocols and procedures were followed regarding handling the donor with utmost respect including draping over identifiable traits and limiting exposure."

Med Ed Labs gives families their loved ones' cremated remains in exchange for the donated body. The company "helps ease the process of planning and executing surgical and medical training events/labs," according to its website. "Attendees will be medical personnel, students, and residents" from surgical specialties.

Med Ed Labs also trains frontline healthcare workers and first responders, and has been supplying personal protective equipment during the pandemic. The company has more than 80 "medical training" facilities internationally, primarily in the U.S.

"There is no way to attain the skills necessary to become an excellent surgeon without having operated on cadavers at some point. That's what these cadaver training sessions offer," the website states.

Ciliberto has paid Med Ed Labs more than $10,000 per cadaver, according to KING 5. "Any concerns about the cadaver have always been addressed by the lab," he noted. "I am the host." Ciliberto said that he is planning to hold more "pay-per-view" autopsies.

Henderson, who was once nominated as a "student wellness advocate" by the University of Montana's Curry Health Center, was "simply hired to conduct the forensic dissection," Ciliberto added. He had more than 40 years' teaching experience, Med Ed Labs said. MedPage Today could not find any other credible background information about Henderson, including a medical degree.

The Oddities and Curiosities Expo confirmed that it did not organize the medical event in an email to MedPage Today. Contrary to reports, Med Ed Lab's statement, and the event page, the Expo also noted that it did not host the event.

A similar November event organized by Death Science was canceled in Seattle, after authorities and KING 5 News started asking questions.

"We feel that this was not respectful and certainly not ethical," Kimberly DiLeo, chief deputy medical examiner in Multnomah County, Oregon, told KING 5.

Med Ed Labs returned the body to the funeral home, the company said, and is working with Portland investigators "to help avoid this tragedy from recurring."

Death Science did not return a request for comment.

Dr. Henderson could not be reached for comment.

Last Updated November 08, 2021

Ryan Basen reports for MedPages enterprise & investigative team. He often writes about issues concerning the practice and business of medicine, nurses, cannabis and psychedelic medicine, and sports medicine. Send story tips to r.basen@medpagetoday.com. Follow

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Retired Anatomy Professor Conducted Live Autopsy Against Family's Wishes - MedPage Today