The dark history of The Medical College of Virginia (now VCU School of Medicine) is hiding in plain sight, in the form of this well written, deeply thoughtful book, The Organ Thieves, by Chip Jones.
The book covers not only the first heart transplant in the segregated south, wherein the surgical team failed to obtain informed consent from the family of a black man (who was declared brain dead), but also the impact of the case on the legal definition of death.
The author also summarizes the history of MCV, including the legacy of the segregated Saint Philip's Hospital and of grave robbing (from black cemeteries) for the supply of medical school cadavers. The remains of these unfortunate individuals ended up in a well adjacent to the Egyptian Building, which was discovered in a 1994 excavation.
Kudos to Mr. Jones, for this brilliant book and for not glossing over the history of MCV-VCU. Despite the many positive accomplishments at my home institution, its history is best understood with a truthful and comprehensive narrative.
