This webpage is for documented designees and family members of anatomical donors who willed their bodies to Harvard Medical School.
Read the Aug. 17, 2026, Anatomical Gift Program Update from Harvard Medical School, which states that: On Aug, 17, 2026, Harvard and the plaintiffs in the civil lawsuits asked the court to approve a class action settlement* agreement to resolve the claims against the University. At a court conference on Aug. 18, 2026, counsel for both the plaintiffs and Harvard will request the court’s preliminary approval of the settlement agreement. If the court grants preliminary approval, two class action settlement funds totaling $53 million will be established to resolve the lawsuits. A third-party Settlement Administrator will be appointed to, among other things, notify potential class members — including by creating a website with information on eligibility and instructions for submitting a claim — and to distribute settlement funds. This process, from beginning to end, is expected to take several months. We will update our Frequently Asked Questions when further information about the court’s actions and when details from and contact information for the Settlement Administrator are available.
In addition to monetary provisions, the settlement agreement includes HMS’ pledge to provide a statement to the claimant families via live webinar confirming that Cedric Lodge’s criminal acts were morally reprehensible and inconsistent with the standards that Harvard University and HMS expect for the treatment of anatomical donors and their loved ones, as well as a statement summarizing improvements made to the AGP. Furthermore, beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year, HMS will establish an annual financial aid scholarship for medical students in appreciation and in honor of all of our anatomical donors.
We are grateful to be working together with the plaintiffs to move forward in a way that prioritizes support for families and the AGP and avoids prolonged litigation. While Lodge’s sentencing concludes the criminal case against him, and the class action settlement agreement when fulfilled would conclude the civil cases, the process of recovering from this painful incident continues.
*A settlement is a resolution of a lawsuit prior to the court issuing a ruling in favor of either party, and without any party admitting to fault.
We have established the following resources specifically for documented designees of donors and donor family members:
- Answers to frequently asked questions.
- Letter from medical and dental students posted July 11, 2023, to family members and documented designees of donors.
- June 14, 2023, letters sent via expedited delivery to documented designees of donors.
- Dec. 7, 2023, AGP Update and full Summary Report on the Harvard Medical School Anatomical Gift Program.
- The criminal investigation and prosecution of Cedric Lodge has now concluded but prior to this, in June 2023, HMS shared contact information for the U.S. Attorney’s Office Victim and Witness Unit to request to be added to the contact list for the criminal case. The USAO said in June 2023 that they would continue to attempt to identify victims. Unfortunately, the USAO also indicated that positive identifications were unlikely given the nature of the alleged crime.
- Please note that from June to December 2023, HMS also established a toll-free information and support center staffed by specially trained counselors to provide mental health and emotional support to family members.