The Los Angeles office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Monday condemned USC for alleged “collaborations” with the Israeli military in connection with surgical training, but the university’s medical school countered that its educational program is “focused solely on preparing medical professionals to deliver lifesaving care wherever trauma occurs.”
CAIR-LA contends that a review of contracts reveals that USC received more than $860,000 from the U.S. Navy to provide human cadavers, including 32 bodies specifically used for medical training of Israeli forces at L.A. General Medical Center.
The Keck School of Medicine said in a statement that for more than two decades “U.S. Navy medical personnel have completed trauma training courses provided by the USC Surgical Skills Simulation and Education Center. Since 2013, international medical personnel designated by the Navy have also participated in these training courses, including non-combatant surgeons, nurses and anesthesiologists from Israel.
“Our trauma training program is focused solely on preparing medical professionals to deliver lifesaving care wherever trauma occurs.”
CAIR-LA claims the training courses reportedly used the bodies to “simulate living patients to prepare Israeli surgical teams” for battlefield scenarios. Many of the cadavers are believed to have come from unclaimed bodies, raising concerns about “consent, dignity and respect” for the deceased, CAIR-LA alleges.
The Keck School said it operates its surgical skills center, including the acquisition of cadavers, in accordance with regulations.
“Cadavers used in these training programs have been obtained from the Office of Decedent Affairs in accordance with applicable legal and ethical standards,” according to the medical school.
CAIR-LA said it is calling on USC to “fully disclose the details of its military contracts, conduct an independent ethics review, and end any current or future collaborations with the Israeli military.”