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The Organ Thieves: The Shocking Story of the First Heart Transplant in the Segregated South
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks meets Get Out in this “startling…powerful” ( Kirkus Reviews ) investigation of racial inequality at the core of the heart transplant race.
In 1968, Bruce Tucker, a black man, went into Virginia’s top research hospital with a head injury, only to have his heart taken out of his body and put into the chest of a white businessman. Now, in The Organ Thieves , Pulitzer Prize–nominated journalist Chip Jones exposes the horrifying inequality surrounding Tucker’s death and how he was used as a human guinea pig without his family’s permission or knowledge.
The circumstances surrounding his death reflect the long legacy of mistreating African Americans that began more than a century before with cadaver harvesting and worse. It culminated in efforts to win the heart transplant race in the late 1960s. Featuring years of research and fresh reporting, along with a foreword from social justice activist Ben Jealous, “this powerful book weaves together a medical mystery, a legal drama, and a sweeping history, its characters confronting unprecedented issues of life and death under the shadows of centuries of racial injustice” (Edward L. Ayers, author of The Promise of the New South ).
In 1968, Bruce Tucker, a black man, went into Virginia’s top research hospital with a head injury, only to have his heart taken out of his body and put into the chest of a white businessman. Now, in The Organ Thieves , Pulitzer Prize–nominated journalist Chip Jones exposes the horrifying inequality surrounding Tucker’s death and how he was used as a human guinea pig without his family’s permission or knowledge.
The circumstances surrounding his death reflect the long legacy of mistreating African Americans that began more than a century before with cadaver harvesting and worse. It culminated in efforts to win the heart transplant race in the late 1960s. Featuring years of research and fresh reporting, along with a foreword from social justice activist Ben Jealous, “this powerful book weaves together a medical mystery, a legal drama, and a sweeping history, its characters confronting unprecedented issues of life and death under the shadows of centuries of racial injustice” (Edward L. Ayers, author of The Promise of the New South ).
400 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2020
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10896 people want to read
About the author
Chip Jones
4 books50 followersChip Jones has been reporting for nearly thirty years for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, The Roanoke Times, Virginia Business magazine, and others. As a reporter for The Roanoke Times, he was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for his work on the Pittston coal strike. He is the former communications director of the Richmond Academy of Medicine, which is where he first discovered the heart stopping story in The Organ Thieves.
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September 1, 2020
Imagine learning that your 54-year old brother fell while out drinking with friends. He hit his head and had to be taken by ambulance to a hospital.
Now imagine calling around to various medical facilities, unable to find which one he had been taken to.
Finally you find the right one only to be told your brother has died. You arrange with a funeral home to pick up his body and they later inform you that your brother's heart and kidneys are missing.
Your brother had apparently died from a fall resulting in a head wound, so why are his heart and kidneys missing?
In The Organ Thieves: The Shocking Story of the First Heart Transplant in the Segregated South, this is what happened. It is a true account of a man whose heart and kidneys were taken by a surgeon desperately wanting to have a successful heart transplant under his belt.
It is impossible to know if Bruce Tucker, the 54-year old Black man whose organs were stolen, was actually brain dead. The hospital later claimed that a 25 minute EEK showed no sign of brain activity. And yet one gets the sense reading this book that it's possible he was allowed to die in order that another - a wealthier white man - could be saved.
Regardless of whether he was brain dead, the surgeons were still at fault for not making much effort to find this man's family and to obtain their permission before harvesting his organs. Bruce's brother had earlier inquired whether he was at the hospital and yet no one checked with reception to see if anyone was looking for a missing person. The police made a minimum of an effort to find his family.
Rather than treating Bruce Tucker as though he was someone's beloved father, son, brother, they hastily assumed he was a poor man who couldn't pay the hospital for his care, and decided to pull the plug.
Whether Mr Tucker would have been treated differently had he been white is impossible to ascertain, and yet it is a valid question. Certainly had he been a wealthy-looking white man, things would have been different.
Instead Bruce was, at best, removed from life support, allowed to die alone, and had his organs stolen before any of his family was found.
Author Chip Jones did his homework with this one. It's not only Bruce Tucker's story, but also the history of how Blacks were treated in the South, beginning with slavery and ending with segregated hospital wards whose staff seemed to care little about Black patients.
Mr. Jones talks extensively about the research hospital's history and of that of the surgeons who performed the transplant. I found some of this boring and too detailed and for that I'm deducting a star from my rating.
I wanted to learn more about Mr. Tucker but instead we are left with little information about him. To be fair, the author probably had little to work with, and he was unable to get the victim's son to speak with him while researching this book.
We learn little more than that Bruce Tucker was a hard-working man who sent a portion of his paycheck to his mother to support his son who lived with her.
This is unfortunate and leaves the book feeling incomplete. Much was discussed about the hospital and its callous treatment of Blacks, and the surgeons' histories of animal experimentations which was disturbing enough.
The Organ Thieves is well-written, descriptive, and engaging. It tells of another instance of America's horrid history of racism and culture of white supremacy. It shows how little value was placed on the life of a Black man, how his life was dispensable to the very doctors who should have been more concerned with saving his life than with stealing his organs. Instead the focus was on becoming the first in the South to successfully perform a heart transplant.
I recommend this book to those interested in learning more about how Black lives were deemed expendable once slavery ended and they were no longer valuable "property" to slaveholders. We cannot begin to dismantle structural racism until we confront head-on the terrible history of mistreatment of Blacks in this country. This history includes how Black lives and bodies were exploited in the medical community. Every American needs to learn this history.
Now imagine calling around to various medical facilities, unable to find which one he had been taken to.
Finally you find the right one only to be told your brother has died. You arrange with a funeral home to pick up his body and they later inform you that your brother's heart and kidneys are missing.
Your brother had apparently died from a fall resulting in a head wound, so why are his heart and kidneys missing?
In The Organ Thieves: The Shocking Story of the First Heart Transplant in the Segregated South, this is what happened. It is a true account of a man whose heart and kidneys were taken by a surgeon desperately wanting to have a successful heart transplant under his belt.
It is impossible to know if Bruce Tucker, the 54-year old Black man whose organs were stolen, was actually brain dead. The hospital later claimed that a 25 minute EEK showed no sign of brain activity. And yet one gets the sense reading this book that it's possible he was allowed to die in order that another - a wealthier white man - could be saved.
Regardless of whether he was brain dead, the surgeons were still at fault for not making much effort to find this man's family and to obtain their permission before harvesting his organs. Bruce's brother had earlier inquired whether he was at the hospital and yet no one checked with reception to see if anyone was looking for a missing person. The police made a minimum of an effort to find his family.
Rather than treating Bruce Tucker as though he was someone's beloved father, son, brother, they hastily assumed he was a poor man who couldn't pay the hospital for his care, and decided to pull the plug.
Whether Mr Tucker would have been treated differently had he been white is impossible to ascertain, and yet it is a valid question. Certainly had he been a wealthy-looking white man, things would have been different.
Instead Bruce was, at best, removed from life support, allowed to die alone, and had his organs stolen before any of his family was found.
Author Chip Jones did his homework with this one. It's not only Bruce Tucker's story, but also the history of how Blacks were treated in the South, beginning with slavery and ending with segregated hospital wards whose staff seemed to care little about Black patients.
Mr. Jones talks extensively about the research hospital's history and of that of the surgeons who performed the transplant. I found some of this boring and too detailed and for that I'm deducting a star from my rating.
I wanted to learn more about Mr. Tucker but instead we are left with little information about him. To be fair, the author probably had little to work with, and he was unable to get the victim's son to speak with him while researching this book.
We learn little more than that Bruce Tucker was a hard-working man who sent a portion of his paycheck to his mother to support his son who lived with her.
This is unfortunate and leaves the book feeling incomplete. Much was discussed about the hospital and its callous treatment of Blacks, and the surgeons' histories of animal experimentations which was disturbing enough.
The Organ Thieves is well-written, descriptive, and engaging. It tells of another instance of America's horrid history of racism and culture of white supremacy. It shows how little value was placed on the life of a Black man, how his life was dispensable to the very doctors who should have been more concerned with saving his life than with stealing his organs. Instead the focus was on becoming the first in the South to successfully perform a heart transplant.
I recommend this book to those interested in learning more about how Black lives were deemed expendable once slavery ended and they were no longer valuable "property" to slaveholders. We cannot begin to dismantle structural racism until we confront head-on the terrible history of mistreatment of Blacks in this country. This history includes how Black lives and bodies were exploited in the medical community. Every American needs to learn this history.
October 18, 2020
This work of history examines a largely unknown dirty secret of one of the first heart transplants in the Eastern United States: in 1968, a black man was admitted to a research hospital with a head injury, and, within a matter of hours, his heart was removed from his chest and transplanted into the body of a white man.
This occurred as a result of many different historical factors. Among them was the heart transplant race that took over the medical community in the mid- to late 60s. The first transplant to be completed successfully happened outside of the United States (largely due to a lack of regulation in said country), but the clock was ticking for top hospitals to perform their first transplants and get themselves on the scoreboard.
For Bruce Tucker, a hardworking man in the segregated South, this was bad news. He had taken a tumble after having a few drinks with friends, was declared brain dead not long after he was admitted to one of Virginia’s top hospitals, and was treated like a harvestable specimen without the consent of his family.
This book introduces the case, but then goes into a rather lengthy background information section in which we learn about the history of grave robbers and night doctors - or, how cadavers were obtained in the early days of the medical profession.
This information is good to get a lay of the land when it comes to the lack of boundaries that had formed the bedrock of the medical profession, and to understand the lowly treatment of African Americans in the South during this period, but ultimately this section is long enough to become distracting.
When we finally return to Tucker’s story, we learn more details about the case: who Bruce Tucker was, who the surgeons and other medical professionals involved with the case were, and ultimately, personal information about the lawyers on both sides as this issue rightfully went to court almost two years after the theft of Tucker’s heart.
This book was absolutely devastating at points and lacking in others. Parts of this were not the fault of the author - the conclusion of the book makes clear that the author was not able to contact surviving members of the Tucker family including Bruce’s son who actually took the stand in his trial. The author tried to contact him, that’s for sure. But the man - completely within his rights - didn’t want to talk.
Also, a lot about the case has been “lost” or blatantly covered up. It’s not a proud piece of the state’s history and they seem very happy to keep it under wraps. Sure, they’ll tell you that the first heart transplant happened at this hospital in ‘68 and that they were at the cutting edge of the science of the day, but they certainly won’t mention the name of the donor or that his heart was taken without his consent, something that absolutely would shift public opinion about that boast.
As much as you can enjoy a book like this, I did. It’s as well-researched as possible and the author is completely aware of all of the ethical issues with the choices made while he attempts to articulate what each side was thinking at the time - even if what they were thinking is highly problematic by today’s standards.
However, the side information - mainly the early sections dealing with the acquisition of cadavers - didn’t touch back on the main case frequently enough for the length of the section to feel warranted. An occasional side note about how the information related back to the central case would have worked wonders in making readers feel they weren’t reading a different book than the title promised.
Overall, this is a well-researched and well-written account that only begins the process of seeking justice for Bruce Tucker and his family. More focus within the text could have made it much stronger.
This occurred as a result of many different historical factors. Among them was the heart transplant race that took over the medical community in the mid- to late 60s. The first transplant to be completed successfully happened outside of the United States (largely due to a lack of regulation in said country), but the clock was ticking for top hospitals to perform their first transplants and get themselves on the scoreboard.
For Bruce Tucker, a hardworking man in the segregated South, this was bad news. He had taken a tumble after having a few drinks with friends, was declared brain dead not long after he was admitted to one of Virginia’s top hospitals, and was treated like a harvestable specimen without the consent of his family.
This book introduces the case, but then goes into a rather lengthy background information section in which we learn about the history of grave robbers and night doctors - or, how cadavers were obtained in the early days of the medical profession.
This information is good to get a lay of the land when it comes to the lack of boundaries that had formed the bedrock of the medical profession, and to understand the lowly treatment of African Americans in the South during this period, but ultimately this section is long enough to become distracting.
When we finally return to Tucker’s story, we learn more details about the case: who Bruce Tucker was, who the surgeons and other medical professionals involved with the case were, and ultimately, personal information about the lawyers on both sides as this issue rightfully went to court almost two years after the theft of Tucker’s heart.
This book was absolutely devastating at points and lacking in others. Parts of this were not the fault of the author - the conclusion of the book makes clear that the author was not able to contact surviving members of the Tucker family including Bruce’s son who actually took the stand in his trial. The author tried to contact him, that’s for sure. But the man - completely within his rights - didn’t want to talk.
Also, a lot about the case has been “lost” or blatantly covered up. It’s not a proud piece of the state’s history and they seem very happy to keep it under wraps. Sure, they’ll tell you that the first heart transplant happened at this hospital in ‘68 and that they were at the cutting edge of the science of the day, but they certainly won’t mention the name of the donor or that his heart was taken without his consent, something that absolutely would shift public opinion about that boast.
As much as you can enjoy a book like this, I did. It’s as well-researched as possible and the author is completely aware of all of the ethical issues with the choices made while he attempts to articulate what each side was thinking at the time - even if what they were thinking is highly problematic by today’s standards.
However, the side information - mainly the early sections dealing with the acquisition of cadavers - didn’t touch back on the main case frequently enough for the length of the section to feel warranted. An occasional side note about how the information related back to the central case would have worked wonders in making readers feel they weren’t reading a different book than the title promised.
Overall, this is a well-researched and well-written account that only begins the process of seeking justice for Bruce Tucker and his family. More focus within the text could have made it much stronger.
May 10, 2020
I have seen all the rave reviews, and I hate to be the party pooper. I know my review will anger some. But based on the description of the book, I was expecting an in-depth analysis of a particular incident, that is, the 1968 theft of Bruce Tucker's heart without his family's consent by Virginia's top research hospital. Certainly, such an analysis would require the author to provide some background information in order to situate the incident in its historic context. But after a few opening pages on 1968 incident in question, the reader must suffer through pages and pages of "context," including a history of body snatching for medical training purposes in the 19th century (not to mention a brief discussion of Renaissance artists' dissections of human bodies!), a history of President Eisenhower's heart problems and his love of fatty foods, and of course a long-winded history of organ transplants. After making my way through all of this, I felt a bit like the victim of a bait and switch. Obviously some may find this "background information" quite interesting and thus will enjoy this book immensely. But I, for one, am tired of book descriptions designed to capture the reader's interest, but which do not accurately represent the contents of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 6, 2020
3.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this powerful look at some little known events in the segregated south and in the improvement of medical care with some groundbreaking discoveries and techniques. Such improvements came along with some horrific experimentation described in the book. Years of meticulous research resulted in this book.
This was a long book with much detail and digressions which hindered the flow of reporting for me. The story centres around the case of a black man in Richmond, Virginia in 1968. He was made a heart and kidney donor without the consent of his family. Bruce was a hard-working man in his 50s who sent money home regularly to support his son and mother. One day, while taking a break from his work at an egg sorting business he fell off a fence where he was sitting. He sustained a brain injury and was taken to the research hospital in Richmond, considered to be one of the best in America for experiments and innovations. Being black and with the smell of liquor on his breath, he was thought to be a derelict. Things didn't go well for him.
We don't read about Bruce Tucker until 30% into the book. We get an early history of the days when Richmond was a centre of the slave trade, mentions of the civil war, growth of the tobacco industry and other businesses, and details about some of their most distinguished citizens and influential doctors.
This book revolves around racism, medical ethics, malpractice, experimentation on animals, the prejudice and injustice endured by black men in the south. Doctors were racing to gain fame for new, innovative medical procedures leading to professional rivalry.
The author reveals a shameful history when the education of early medical students was changed from lectures to a more hands-on approach studying anatomy. To learn by this method the students required bodies to dissect. Bodies were unearthed at night from segregated black cemeteries. Students studied the bodies at night under the guidance of medical doctors. There was a separate rat-infested hospital for black patients.
By the 1960s, laws were passed to integrate schools, universities and hospitals but some of the old attitudes still prevailed. The hospital in Richmond became a leader in kidney transplants and the doctors were hoping to do one of the first successful heart transplants, following some experiments with dogs.
When Bruce was brought into the hospital, the top researchers thought they were ready to perform a heart transplant. Bruce had been placed on a respirator and his heart was still beating when it was removed from his chest. It was reported that his EEG showed no brain activity. It was transferred to a white businessman. The time of death had been always been based on the cessation of the heart and other vital organs and not by brain death. Bruce’s heart was still beating when cut from his chest.
To do a transplant, permission had to be given by next of kin, but little effort was made to find them. In Bruce’s pocket was a business card giving the address and phone number of his brother’s shoe repair shop very near the hospital but this was overlooked. On arriving at the hospital, he inquired about his brother's welfare. He was treated in a callous manner. Finally, he learned Bruce was dead and the coroner informed him that both heart and kidneys were missing from the body.
The Tucker family sued the hospital, and the jurors had to go solve the dispute about time of death. Was Bruce still alive when his beating heart was removed, or when cerebral activity ended? Some of the most prestigious doctors in the country were on trial and others were testifying in their defence. The hospital and the doctors were found not guilty of malpractice. The Tucker family received no monetary compensation as the statute of limitations for negligence had run out, depriving his son and mother without his monthly payments to them.
Some good did come out of the trial as stringent rules for heart and kidney transplants we're put in place.
This was a long book with much detail and digressions which hindered the flow of reporting for me. The story centres around the case of a black man in Richmond, Virginia in 1968. He was made a heart and kidney donor without the consent of his family. Bruce was a hard-working man in his 50s who sent money home regularly to support his son and mother. One day, while taking a break from his work at an egg sorting business he fell off a fence where he was sitting. He sustained a brain injury and was taken to the research hospital in Richmond, considered to be one of the best in America for experiments and innovations. Being black and with the smell of liquor on his breath, he was thought to be a derelict. Things didn't go well for him.
We don't read about Bruce Tucker until 30% into the book. We get an early history of the days when Richmond was a centre of the slave trade, mentions of the civil war, growth of the tobacco industry and other businesses, and details about some of their most distinguished citizens and influential doctors.
This book revolves around racism, medical ethics, malpractice, experimentation on animals, the prejudice and injustice endured by black men in the south. Doctors were racing to gain fame for new, innovative medical procedures leading to professional rivalry.
The author reveals a shameful history when the education of early medical students was changed from lectures to a more hands-on approach studying anatomy. To learn by this method the students required bodies to dissect. Bodies were unearthed at night from segregated black cemeteries. Students studied the bodies at night under the guidance of medical doctors. There was a separate rat-infested hospital for black patients.
By the 1960s, laws were passed to integrate schools, universities and hospitals but some of the old attitudes still prevailed. The hospital in Richmond became a leader in kidney transplants and the doctors were hoping to do one of the first successful heart transplants, following some experiments with dogs.
When Bruce was brought into the hospital, the top researchers thought they were ready to perform a heart transplant. Bruce had been placed on a respirator and his heart was still beating when it was removed from his chest. It was reported that his EEG showed no brain activity. It was transferred to a white businessman. The time of death had been always been based on the cessation of the heart and other vital organs and not by brain death. Bruce’s heart was still beating when cut from his chest.
To do a transplant, permission had to be given by next of kin, but little effort was made to find them. In Bruce’s pocket was a business card giving the address and phone number of his brother’s shoe repair shop very near the hospital but this was overlooked. On arriving at the hospital, he inquired about his brother's welfare. He was treated in a callous manner. Finally, he learned Bruce was dead and the coroner informed him that both heart and kidneys were missing from the body.
The Tucker family sued the hospital, and the jurors had to go solve the dispute about time of death. Was Bruce still alive when his beating heart was removed, or when cerebral activity ended? Some of the most prestigious doctors in the country were on trial and others were testifying in their defence. The hospital and the doctors were found not guilty of malpractice. The Tucker family received no monetary compensation as the statute of limitations for negligence had run out, depriving his son and mother without his monthly payments to them.
Some good did come out of the trial as stringent rules for heart and kidney transplants we're put in place.
April 25, 2020
After the first chapter, I double checked my kindle: Did I start the right book?
I did not read the description and from the title, I expected a lesson in medical history. But that is just the background story - really. This is a crime drama. This is a courtroom drama. This is a segregation drama in the American South. Yes, and it is a medical drama better than any you may have seen on TV.
This is a story.
And it all starts when a father and funeral director find a body with missing organs.....
I did not read the description and from the title, I expected a lesson in medical history. But that is just the background story - really. This is a crime drama. This is a courtroom drama. This is a segregation drama in the American South. Yes, and it is a medical drama better than any you may have seen on TV.
This is a story.
And it all starts when a father and funeral director find a body with missing organs.....
April 22, 2022
I received an advanced reader's copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways and Simon & Schuster.
I'm grateful for all that I have learned from this book, from the racist history of organ thieving for medical practices to the lives of the Tucker family, but it was difficult to get through. It is thoroughly researched, but the structure and language are so distracting I had to put it down just to roll my eyes.
The first nine pages alone try to cover too much ground, like Jones can't wait to just get it all out there before going into detail. He mixes non-fiction details with try-hard lyrical prose that don't blend well at all. To use an overwrought simile that Jones himself loves, it's like finding a hair in your soup. His weirdest simile, actually, is "His words were like raindrops that fall too fast for the ground to absorb."
Jones also uses the first third of the book to showcase his knowledge of popular literature. He details the events of A Tale of Two Cities and Sweeney Todd, then uses one sentence to casually refer to "the Virginia Star, a black-owned publication with Republican ties." Wait what?? I had to have a Dickens refresher but zero further details on this intriguing newspaper? He later brings up random TV shows that have barely any connection to anyone that he's writing about. I still don't understand his attempt to bring pop culture into what should be a serious examination of human rights violations.
Chapter one covers nearly the entire history of human cadavers, and ends with what I think Jones thinks is a pensive nod to a Black early employee of the MCV. He doesn't connect any of his scattered findings and ideas at all. Take this as an omen of how the rest of the book is.
The book is also filled with passive language, like a bad first draft of a high school paper. "So anyway..." "But so..." before going into some pro-Eisenhower rant that, again, barely pertains to the subject at hand.
Jones just generally struggles with understanding his audience. He casually dropped the term Corpse Diener without any definitions to help define the term or its origins, but explains what a nephrologist is two times. He also seems to pick a favorite word to reuse several times over the course of several paragraphs. "He was devastated," "there was devastation," "The plan was devastated."
Some phrases, sentences, and statements just plainly do not make sense. Chapter 6 ends with, "Many years later, Lower ruefully recalled his first brush with fame. 'You would have thought the atomic bomb went off.' It wouldn't be the last time." .... Uh, what wouldn't be the last time? The last time Lower was famous? The last time the bomb would go off? It's so poorly written any English teacher would ask you what the subject of that last sentence actually is.
I could go on and on about inconsistencies and writing I wouldn't accept from a high school senior, but I don't want to waste either of our time. I had to stop reading on page 169 when Jones used the term "haters". C'mon man, really?
I'm grateful for all that I have learned from this book, from the racist history of organ thieving for medical practices to the lives of the Tucker family, but it was difficult to get through. It is thoroughly researched, but the structure and language are so distracting I had to put it down just to roll my eyes.
The first nine pages alone try to cover too much ground, like Jones can't wait to just get it all out there before going into detail. He mixes non-fiction details with try-hard lyrical prose that don't blend well at all. To use an overwrought simile that Jones himself loves, it's like finding a hair in your soup. His weirdest simile, actually, is "His words were like raindrops that fall too fast for the ground to absorb."
Jones also uses the first third of the book to showcase his knowledge of popular literature. He details the events of A Tale of Two Cities and Sweeney Todd, then uses one sentence to casually refer to "the Virginia Star, a black-owned publication with Republican ties." Wait what?? I had to have a Dickens refresher but zero further details on this intriguing newspaper? He later brings up random TV shows that have barely any connection to anyone that he's writing about. I still don't understand his attempt to bring pop culture into what should be a serious examination of human rights violations.
Chapter one covers nearly the entire history of human cadavers, and ends with what I think Jones thinks is a pensive nod to a Black early employee of the MCV. He doesn't connect any of his scattered findings and ideas at all. Take this as an omen of how the rest of the book is.
The book is also filled with passive language, like a bad first draft of a high school paper. "So anyway..." "But so..." before going into some pro-Eisenhower rant that, again, barely pertains to the subject at hand.
Jones just generally struggles with understanding his audience. He casually dropped the term Corpse Diener without any definitions to help define the term or its origins, but explains what a nephrologist is two times. He also seems to pick a favorite word to reuse several times over the course of several paragraphs. "He was devastated," "there was devastation," "The plan was devastated."
Some phrases, sentences, and statements just plainly do not make sense. Chapter 6 ends with, "Many years later, Lower ruefully recalled his first brush with fame. 'You would have thought the atomic bomb went off.' It wouldn't be the last time." .... Uh, what wouldn't be the last time? The last time Lower was famous? The last time the bomb would go off? It's so poorly written any English teacher would ask you what the subject of that last sentence actually is.
I could go on and on about inconsistencies and writing I wouldn't accept from a high school senior, but I don't want to waste either of our time. I had to stop reading on page 169 when Jones used the term "haters". C'mon man, really?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2020
I really wanted to
read this book; I really wanted to like it. I was thrilled when I got it from the library. I eagerly read through the first few chapters and then the anticipation ended and disappointment set in. The author veered so far away from the premise which it promises, the theft and selling of human organs , that the text became like a textbook. I slogged through it, bored by all the digression, and realized it wasn’t going to be at all like Henrietta Lacks by Skloot. The writing was good and the author had done extensive research but I found it very unsatisfying because he never fleshed out the victims nor the recipients of the stolen organs. This made the book too clinical for me, as I want to hear the human story. I skimmed and skipped through the last 50 pages or so.
read this book; I really wanted to like it. I was thrilled when I got it from the library. I eagerly read through the first few chapters and then the anticipation ended and disappointment set in. The author veered so far away from the premise which it promises, the theft and selling of human organs , that the text became like a textbook. I slogged through it, bored by all the digression, and realized it wasn’t going to be at all like Henrietta Lacks by Skloot. The writing was good and the author had done extensive research but I found it very unsatisfying because he never fleshed out the victims nor the recipients of the stolen organs. This made the book too clinical for me, as I want to hear the human story. I skimmed and skipped through the last 50 pages or so.
January 16, 2021
So in 1968, the Medical College of Virginia had committed a crime when they took Bruce Tucker's heart for a heart transplant without getting family permission. Jones' narrative of events shows how this happened.
I thought that The Organ Thieves was very thorough in exposing the roots of medical racism by showing us the history of the theft of Black bodies for medical purposes throughout the history of the United States. Readers of this book should be outraged, as I was.
For my complete review see my blog post at https://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/2...
I thought that The Organ Thieves was very thorough in exposing the roots of medical racism by showing us the history of the theft of Black bodies for medical purposes throughout the history of the United States. Readers of this book should be outraged, as I was.
For my complete review see my blog post at https://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/2...
August 17, 2020
Great. Googly. Moogly.
Well, if you are looking for a book that will both teach you AND piss you off, look no further. This book will do both. I have serious anger, brain fog and book hangover. If that isn't enough of a book recommendation, I don't know what would be.
This is the story of Bruce Tucker. A hard working, self-effacing, black man who, after falling off a wall and suffering brain damage, has his heart harvested [without any consent] to be put in the chest of a prominent white man who was close to death. This is also the story of Bruce Tucker's family [and more specifically, his brother William, who, as it turns out, was just down the street from the hospital his brother was taken to] and the fall-out from him going into the hospital with a head injury and coming out dead, heart and kidney-less, caused.
This is also the story of racism and slavery and grave-robbers and other horrific things that happened in Richmond Virginia [at the medical school and hospital] and are still, to some degree, being kept in the shadows.
I am not going to lie, there is a LOT to process in this book. Mr. Jones starts the book with Bruce Tucker's brother finding out his brother is dead and missing a few organs and then segues into the history of Richmond and the medical school and college there. And folks, it is not a pretty history. In fact, it is downright horrific in spots. Some of the facts about the Negro hospital made me physically ill [rats and mold and so many other unsanitary things were allowed], and I am sure the author just touched on what it was really like. And it just goes on and on and on until we read 1969, when Bruce has his accident and the wheels are set in motion. We also learn the history of transplants and the race to be the first to transplant a human heart. We learn about the two doctors who were at the forefront of that race and the role they played the day that Bruce Tucker was admitted to the hospital and what happened afterwards. Again, there is a lot of information here and it is best to read it a slowly as you need to so you can look things up and so you can absorb all that you are reading. Because there are moments where it will seem like the craziest story of fiction that you have ever laid eyes on. And I am sad to say, there is no happy ending with this book. The people involved [those who are still alive], still have a lot of answer for, in my opinion. And you just do not get those answers at this time.
This book is a must read in my opinion, especially at this time of racial equality and race relations. It is important to know your history and the past so you can learn from it and grow and move forward. And this book has a lot of history that has been buried for years and needs to be out in the public so we can all learn and and grow. We will never move forward without those two things. And I think this book will be helpful in doing those things; I know that it has helped me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books/Gallery/Jeter Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Well, if you are looking for a book that will both teach you AND piss you off, look no further. This book will do both. I have serious anger, brain fog and book hangover. If that isn't enough of a book recommendation, I don't know what would be.
This is the story of Bruce Tucker. A hard working, self-effacing, black man who, after falling off a wall and suffering brain damage, has his heart harvested [without any consent] to be put in the chest of a prominent white man who was close to death. This is also the story of Bruce Tucker's family [and more specifically, his brother William, who, as it turns out, was just down the street from the hospital his brother was taken to] and the fall-out from him going into the hospital with a head injury and coming out dead, heart and kidney-less, caused.
This is also the story of racism and slavery and grave-robbers and other horrific things that happened in Richmond Virginia [at the medical school and hospital] and are still, to some degree, being kept in the shadows.
I am not going to lie, there is a LOT to process in this book. Mr. Jones starts the book with Bruce Tucker's brother finding out his brother is dead and missing a few organs and then segues into the history of Richmond and the medical school and college there. And folks, it is not a pretty history. In fact, it is downright horrific in spots. Some of the facts about the Negro hospital made me physically ill [rats and mold and so many other unsanitary things were allowed], and I am sure the author just touched on what it was really like. And it just goes on and on and on until we read 1969, when Bruce has his accident and the wheels are set in motion. We also learn the history of transplants and the race to be the first to transplant a human heart. We learn about the two doctors who were at the forefront of that race and the role they played the day that Bruce Tucker was admitted to the hospital and what happened afterwards. Again, there is a lot of information here and it is best to read it a slowly as you need to so you can look things up and so you can absorb all that you are reading. Because there are moments where it will seem like the craziest story of fiction that you have ever laid eyes on. And I am sad to say, there is no happy ending with this book. The people involved [those who are still alive], still have a lot of answer for, in my opinion. And you just do not get those answers at this time.
This book is a must read in my opinion, especially at this time of racial equality and race relations. It is important to know your history and the past so you can learn from it and grow and move forward. And this book has a lot of history that has been buried for years and needs to be out in the public so we can all learn and and grow. We will never move forward without those two things. And I think this book will be helpful in doing those things; I know that it has helped me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books/Gallery/Jeter Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2020
Ahhh....the details of this book. It's like when someone tells you a story and they are a bit long winded, so they keep adding to it a tapestry of side notes and not quite getting to the point and you listen and wonder to yourself if they will ever get there, but they have caught your interest so you see it through. In the end you are left with a pretty good story.
That's what Chip Jones' book, The Organ Thieves was like for me. I actually enjoyed all the incredible little details. It impressed me how well researched the book was. It won't be for everyone, especially those who want to tell those long winded story tellers to get to the point!
In May of 1968, Bruce Tucker, a 54 yr old black man was hanging out with some fellow coworkers behind the factory where he worked. They were enjoying some drinks after their shift ended when Bruce fell from the concrete ledge where he was sitting. Bruce was brought to the Medical College of Virginia Hospital suffering from extreme head trauma. He did not live through this event. When the funeral director was in possession of the body, he noticed incisions to the chest and stomach area. Upon further review it was documented that Bruce Tucker's heart and kidneys had been removed. Permission for use of the heart and kidneys was never granted, as no one from the hospital contacted his family. There were no donor cards at this time. All this was uncharted territory.
During the same time frame the hospital announced that they had performed their first heart transplant. The recipient of Bruce Tucker's heart was a white business man who was facing imminent death without the surgery.
Was Bruce Tucker's life sacrificed to give the other man a chance at life? Was Bruce Tucker clinically dead at the time the heart was taken? These questions and more, would be argued in court and some of today's laws stem from the actions that took place back in May of 1968.
In this book you'll learn many additional bits of information pertaining to heart transplants such as: grave robbing, transplants on dogs, using other animals hearts etc...
I found this book very interesting and certainly complex. I feel that Chip Jones did a fantastic job of reporting information without bias. There were some moments when I wondered if a new side note of information I was reading was pertinent to the full story and for that I give it 4 stars.
That's what Chip Jones' book, The Organ Thieves was like for me. I actually enjoyed all the incredible little details. It impressed me how well researched the book was. It won't be for everyone, especially those who want to tell those long winded story tellers to get to the point!
In May of 1968, Bruce Tucker, a 54 yr old black man was hanging out with some fellow coworkers behind the factory where he worked. They were enjoying some drinks after their shift ended when Bruce fell from the concrete ledge where he was sitting. Bruce was brought to the Medical College of Virginia Hospital suffering from extreme head trauma. He did not live through this event. When the funeral director was in possession of the body, he noticed incisions to the chest and stomach area. Upon further review it was documented that Bruce Tucker's heart and kidneys had been removed. Permission for use of the heart and kidneys was never granted, as no one from the hospital contacted his family. There were no donor cards at this time. All this was uncharted territory.
During the same time frame the hospital announced that they had performed their first heart transplant. The recipient of Bruce Tucker's heart was a white business man who was facing imminent death without the surgery.
Was Bruce Tucker's life sacrificed to give the other man a chance at life? Was Bruce Tucker clinically dead at the time the heart was taken? These questions and more, would be argued in court and some of today's laws stem from the actions that took place back in May of 1968.
In this book you'll learn many additional bits of information pertaining to heart transplants such as: grave robbing, transplants on dogs, using other animals hearts etc...
I found this book very interesting and certainly complex. I feel that Chip Jones did a fantastic job of reporting information without bias. There were some moments when I wondered if a new side note of information I was reading was pertinent to the full story and for that I give it 4 stars.
July 21, 2020
The book was nicely written. A few errors was in the text. The book was an "Uncorrected proof". I was disappointed that it took half the book to get to the actual case of the victim's family. I understand that the reader may have need some background information to organ transplantation. But the author went so far as even mention a Charles Dickens novel to build up the background.
I just think that the author over did the details and did not give the reader enough of the actual story or lack of a story to write a book on.
I just think that the author over did the details and did not give the reader enough of the actual story or lack of a story to write a book on.
January 8, 2021
Trigger warnings: medical procedures, graphic descriptions of medical procedures, animal experimentation, death, racism, questionable medical ethics.
3.5 stars.
The subtitle and the blurb very much make this sound like it's going to be the story of Bruce Tucker going to hospital with a head injury and leaving dead and minus his heart. And, like, it IS? But it's also the story of grave robbing so that medical students could learn. It's the story of transplant surgery and the experimentation that went along with it. It's the story of the doctors themselves and their desperation to work out exactly how to replace a human heart. And it's also the story of Bruce Tucker.
Ultimately, while I enjoyed this, I wanted more of Tucker's story. I wanted more of a focus on the racial inequality and the ethics. I wanted less of a focus on the white doctors. But at the same time, I understand why there's not a significant focus on Tucker's story given that his family - particularly his son - didn't want to be involved. Essentially, I think I wanted this to be The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks but with heart transplant surgery and it...wasn't. I mean, it's still a good read! But it does jump around in terms of the story and the pacing suffers as a result.
3.5 stars.
The subtitle and the blurb very much make this sound like it's going to be the story of Bruce Tucker going to hospital with a head injury and leaving dead and minus his heart. And, like, it IS? But it's also the story of grave robbing so that medical students could learn. It's the story of transplant surgery and the experimentation that went along with it. It's the story of the doctors themselves and their desperation to work out exactly how to replace a human heart. And it's also the story of Bruce Tucker.
Ultimately, while I enjoyed this, I wanted more of Tucker's story. I wanted more of a focus on the racial inequality and the ethics. I wanted less of a focus on the white doctors. But at the same time, I understand why there's not a significant focus on Tucker's story given that his family - particularly his son - didn't want to be involved. Essentially, I think I wanted this to be The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks but with heart transplant surgery and it...wasn't. I mean, it's still a good read! But it does jump around in terms of the story and the pacing suffers as a result.
August 15, 2020
I admired the research and writing of this non-fiction book because the 1968 episode portrayed therein is a concrete example of the beginning, middle, and end of a racist act. The act (actually more than one act) is put clearly in context in all its cruel but ambiguous nature, complete with people who are well-meaning, ambitious, thoughtless, careless, and on and on. The whole book is like a thought experiment: What if this detail had changed? What about this other detail? Would the whole story had turned out differently if character X hadn't taken that day off work? What if person Y had been more thoughtful?
This book caused me to come to this conclusion: while racism is certainly bad, in order to accomplish a really impressively gross and appalling affront to human dignity, racism has to be combined with other human failings – for example, egotism, administrative sloth, and ambition, to name a few – on a successive series of occasions. That's what this book demonstrates. It's not a fun read, but it's a necessary one.
For example:
– ambition + racism: In this book, the Richmond, Virginia, surgeons and hospital felt that it had been “scooped” in the race to perform successful heart transplants by Dr. Christiaan Barnard, who observed related procedures during a long visit to the hospital. (Barnard then used this knowledge to make history by performing the first successful human-to-human heart transplant in his native South Africa, where he faced fewer bureaucratic obstacles – and moral qualms – than his American counterparts.) This event “primed the pump” for a racist act, in my opinion, meaning, in the wake of Barnard's procedure, the surgeons wished to capture a fraction of the glamour and celebrity that they felt Barnard had swindled from them. As a result, they were willing, even eager, to believe that the African-American man with a serious brain injury who came by ambulance, unconscious and smelling of recently-consumed liquor, was a drifter with no immediate family to object to his heart being used in a transplant.
– arrogance + racism: The surgeons could have found evidence of the injured man's living relatives by checking the clothes he was wearing when he was taken to the hospital, which were stored … at the hospital. They didn't, because surgeons apparently do surgery only and not menial administrative tasks, like checking for next of kin. Would the surgeons, who had ultimate responsibility, have been so quick to assume that others had done all possible to contact relatives if the potential donor was a white woman?
– administrative sloth + racism: The hospital had an address for the injured man. It was a boarding house in an African-American neighborhood of Richmond. The hospital sent unaccompanied white policemen to the boarding house to ask if anybody knew the injured man. Unsurprisingly, no one admitted to knowing anything and no one supplied helpful information. “The cops had little choice but to leave. There was no active investigation and no search warrant. As they pulled away from the darkened house, they knew they could let the [hospital's] doctors know they'd done their best” (Kindle location 2116).
– injustice + racism: Afterwards, the donor's family – who only found out about the “donation” when the funeral director told them that the corpse was missing a heart and other organs – tried to sue the hospital for damages. At that time in Virginia, lawyers were permitted to dismiss potential jurors on the basis of race. The jury was entirely white. So was the judge. The donor's family lost. While there were some complicated legal and ethical issues in play, and the donor's family might have lost no matter what the composition of the jury was, it is hard to completely discount race as a factor in the hospital's acquittal.
To the extent that this book has a hero, it is former Virginia Governor Doug Wilder, who went on (long after the events described in this book) to become the first African-American to hold that position. I have been a Virginia resident for over 30 years, including during Wilder's tenure as Governor. I was amazed that I had not heard of this incident before.
This book has drawn comparisons to The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which it resembles in certain details and narrative arc. In the book about Lacks, the white writer manages to break through, to a certain extent, the understandable sense of grievance and frustration of the surviving members of the Lacks family, which gave the book at least a slightly more upbeat tone towards the end. In this book, .
Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for a free advance electronic copy of this book for review.
This book caused me to come to this conclusion: while racism is certainly bad, in order to accomplish a really impressively gross and appalling affront to human dignity, racism has to be combined with other human failings – for example, egotism, administrative sloth, and ambition, to name a few – on a successive series of occasions. That's what this book demonstrates. It's not a fun read, but it's a necessary one.
For example:
– ambition + racism: In this book, the Richmond, Virginia, surgeons and hospital felt that it had been “scooped” in the race to perform successful heart transplants by Dr. Christiaan Barnard, who observed related procedures during a long visit to the hospital. (Barnard then used this knowledge to make history by performing the first successful human-to-human heart transplant in his native South Africa, where he faced fewer bureaucratic obstacles – and moral qualms – than his American counterparts.) This event “primed the pump” for a racist act, in my opinion, meaning, in the wake of Barnard's procedure, the surgeons wished to capture a fraction of the glamour and celebrity that they felt Barnard had swindled from them. As a result, they were willing, even eager, to believe that the African-American man with a serious brain injury who came by ambulance, unconscious and smelling of recently-consumed liquor, was a drifter with no immediate family to object to his heart being used in a transplant.
– arrogance + racism: The surgeons could have found evidence of the injured man's living relatives by checking the clothes he was wearing when he was taken to the hospital, which were stored … at the hospital. They didn't, because surgeons apparently do surgery only and not menial administrative tasks, like checking for next of kin. Would the surgeons, who had ultimate responsibility, have been so quick to assume that others had done all possible to contact relatives if the potential donor was a white woman?
– administrative sloth + racism: The hospital had an address for the injured man. It was a boarding house in an African-American neighborhood of Richmond. The hospital sent unaccompanied white policemen to the boarding house to ask if anybody knew the injured man. Unsurprisingly, no one admitted to knowing anything and no one supplied helpful information. “The cops had little choice but to leave. There was no active investigation and no search warrant. As they pulled away from the darkened house, they knew they could let the [hospital's] doctors know they'd done their best” (Kindle location 2116).
– injustice + racism: Afterwards, the donor's family – who only found out about the “donation” when the funeral director told them that the corpse was missing a heart and other organs – tried to sue the hospital for damages. At that time in Virginia, lawyers were permitted to dismiss potential jurors on the basis of race. The jury was entirely white. So was the judge. The donor's family lost. While there were some complicated legal and ethical issues in play, and the donor's family might have lost no matter what the composition of the jury was, it is hard to completely discount race as a factor in the hospital's acquittal.
To the extent that this book has a hero, it is former Virginia Governor Doug Wilder, who went on (long after the events described in this book) to become the first African-American to hold that position. I have been a Virginia resident for over 30 years, including during Wilder's tenure as Governor. I was amazed that I had not heard of this incident before.
This book has drawn comparisons to The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which it resembles in certain details and narrative arc. In the book about Lacks, the white writer manages to break through, to a certain extent, the understandable sense of grievance and frustration of the surviving members of the Lacks family, which gave the book at least a slightly more upbeat tone towards the end. In this book, .
Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for a free advance electronic copy of this book for review.
November 4, 2021
*Sigh* My favorite narrator <3
17%Done: Well researched and informative. It's not just about the titled case, this book is about the history of medical apartheid/terrorism that has been forced upon the black population in the United States. It's a long history that is frankly, unbelievable and abhorrent, but yet, on point in regards to the culture of this country. I mean, are any of us really shocked about this book? No. Are we confused as to how it happened? No. Are we pissed and tired of this type of systemic home grown terrorism? YES! This book is a great read but a little too long and as dry as medical abuse can be.
DNF @ 18%
17%Done: Well researched and informative. It's not just about the titled case, this book is about the history of medical apartheid/terrorism that has been forced upon the black population in the United States. It's a long history that is frankly, unbelievable and abhorrent, but yet, on point in regards to the culture of this country. I mean, are any of us really shocked about this book? No. Are we confused as to how it happened? No. Are we pissed and tired of this type of systemic home grown terrorism? YES! This book is a great read but a little too long and as dry as medical abuse can be.
DNF @ 18%
March 26, 2024
Fascinating book. Medical history meets social justice! Takes place at MCV in my hometown of Richmond VA so it is particularly interesting to me!
Read
February 12, 2024Doesn’t quite feel right to rate either way. I deeply appreciate the amount of research this author performed to properly contextualize all of the events that took place in this book.
May 13, 2022
Fascinating! Must read book about the origins of medical school, organ transplant, and the development of medical ethics. The subtitle says it all- truly a shocking story about race and defining death.
July 30, 2020
This accounting of the first heart transplant performed in Virginia in 1968 also encompassed quite a bit of background on the history of “grave robbing” for the purpose of medical study, as well as a thorough account of the history of organ transplants.
While reading the first section on “grave robbing” I worried that the book would be bogged down in a bunch of technical info and read like a textbook, and sometimes it did.
It picked up when covering the beginning of organ transplants and especially the transplant surgeons paving the way.
Then about halfway through, when I realized I was still only halfway through, I just wanted it to be done. The trial regarding the heart transplant referenced in the book’s title seemed to go on forever.
I did read to the end, but it was a slog. I really just skimmed through probably about the last ten percent book.
While reading the first section on “grave robbing” I worried that the book would be bogged down in a bunch of technical info and read like a textbook, and sometimes it did.
It picked up when covering the beginning of organ transplants and especially the transplant surgeons paving the way.
Then about halfway through, when I realized I was still only halfway through, I just wanted it to be done. The trial regarding the heart transplant referenced in the book’s title seemed to go on forever.
I did read to the end, but it was a slog. I really just skimmed through probably about the last ten percent book.
January 18, 2023
4.5 Stars
At first, I assumed it was one of the many painful stories of racism in modern America (which is sufficient in and of itself), only to discover that the narrative goes beyond that and touches on colonial history, the history of medical education in America, the Italian Renaissance, Charles Dickens, and… I was intrigued.
Although many criticize how far the author went with unnecessary historical remarks, I find myself at odds with such view and find such chronicle interesting and rather crucial. In order to comprehend the sensitivities of such topic, one must understand its historical context in the first place.
The author embarks on many subjects (i.e. Medical ethics, law, and philosophy) that are principally intertwined, yet often not particularly paid attention to. It also portrays an age of modern medical experimentation.
The book is certainly troublesome, yet really great at stirring one’s thoughts and demonstrating the complexities of life and ethics. I found myself in many occasions thinking, rethinking and attempting to understand certain roles, positions and decisions that were taken in that era.
From a public health standpoint, the book builds on the concepts of social justice, access to health care, medical racism (intentional vs. unintentional) and race as a social construct. It also unmasks systemic racism and shows that racism stems not only from hatred but from ignorance as well.
At first, I assumed it was one of the many painful stories of racism in modern America (which is sufficient in and of itself), only to discover that the narrative goes beyond that and touches on colonial history, the history of medical education in America, the Italian Renaissance, Charles Dickens, and… I was intrigued.
Although many criticize how far the author went with unnecessary historical remarks, I find myself at odds with such view and find such chronicle interesting and rather crucial. In order to comprehend the sensitivities of such topic, one must understand its historical context in the first place.
The author embarks on many subjects (i.e. Medical ethics, law, and philosophy) that are principally intertwined, yet often not particularly paid attention to. It also portrays an age of modern medical experimentation.
The book is certainly troublesome, yet really great at stirring one’s thoughts and demonstrating the complexities of life and ethics. I found myself in many occasions thinking, rethinking and attempting to understand certain roles, positions and decisions that were taken in that era.
From a public health standpoint, the book builds on the concepts of social justice, access to health care, medical racism (intentional vs. unintentional) and race as a social construct. It also unmasks systemic racism and shows that racism stems not only from hatred but from ignorance as well.
August 20, 2020
Let me start off this largely negative review by saying that I had absolutely no problem with Jones' writing style. The Organ Thieves was very well written. In fact, the way he wrote it really allowed you insight to the emotions that were being felt by those involved with the case. The writing was very immersive and emotional. The book was also very well researched. It was clear that Jones spent a very long time researching the premise and making sure that he had accurate background information. If the book had been more focused, I see no reason why this could not have been a 8-9/10 for me. It was the excess of information that really threw me off and caused the book to really drag.
While I understand that Jones was going for a well-rounded work of nonfiction that was meant to provide background to the Bruce Tucker case, that isn't what happened. The additions of so many different historical events that didn't directly affect the case of the stolen heart and kidneys, made the book way too long and it ultimately confused the point. The book is meant to be about the case of Bruce Tucker, whose organs were taken without his family's permission back in 1968. The first chapter is about Bruce Tucker, the first chapter really brings you into the book. The next chapter is just about the history of the Medical College of Virginia and then the next portion is about grave robbing. I read this as an e-book, so my perception of chapter breakdowns is kind of off. But, I can break it down by percentages. The first 2% are about Bruce Tucker (The man whose organs were thieved); the next 33% is about grave robbing, the creation of the MCV, and the heart transplant race; the next 45% is the court case and the events surrounding Bruce Tucker's death; the final 5% is a mixed bag, half Bruce Tucker and half archaeological survey of the MCV grounds. The final 15% is an appendix/glossary/acknowledgements/citations (which is fine, that 15% is necessary to any work of nonfiction). This means that about ~35% (give or take) is not related directly to Bruce Tucker. That would be fine if this book weren't slated to be a story about the events that occurred when the man's organs were taken unlawfully. If it had just been reformatted and retitled, this would be a good study of medical malpractice, particularly racially biased medical malpractice. As it is, it feels unfocused; my professors would rip into me for including so much unnecessary information if I turned this in as a paper. There was a ton of information that felt like it was included to A. bulk up the book and B. to make the author sound even more intelligent (which didn't feel necessary, he seems smart without the random facts sprinkled in).
My final thoughts as that if you want to read about the institution of the MCV and the long history of medical malpractice in the United States that relates particularly to the unlawful procurement of cadavers, as well as the case where a black man's organs were taken unlawfully, then you might want to look into this one. If you just want to read about what happened to Bruce Tucker and the court case that followed, well it's in here, but you'll have to do a lot of digging to read it. It is well written, but the book is incredibly unfocused and annoying to follow.
While I understand that Jones was going for a well-rounded work of nonfiction that was meant to provide background to the Bruce Tucker case, that isn't what happened. The additions of so many different historical events that didn't directly affect the case of the stolen heart and kidneys, made the book way too long and it ultimately confused the point. The book is meant to be about the case of Bruce Tucker, whose organs were taken without his family's permission back in 1968. The first chapter is about Bruce Tucker, the first chapter really brings you into the book. The next chapter is just about the history of the Medical College of Virginia and then the next portion is about grave robbing. I read this as an e-book, so my perception of chapter breakdowns is kind of off. But, I can break it down by percentages. The first 2% are about Bruce Tucker (The man whose organs were thieved); the next 33% is about grave robbing, the creation of the MCV, and the heart transplant race; the next 45% is the court case and the events surrounding Bruce Tucker's death; the final 5% is a mixed bag, half Bruce Tucker and half archaeological survey of the MCV grounds. The final 15% is an appendix/glossary/acknowledgements/citations (which is fine, that 15% is necessary to any work of nonfiction). This means that about ~35% (give or take) is not related directly to Bruce Tucker. That would be fine if this book weren't slated to be a story about the events that occurred when the man's organs were taken unlawfully. If it had just been reformatted and retitled, this would be a good study of medical malpractice, particularly racially biased medical malpractice. As it is, it feels unfocused; my professors would rip into me for including so much unnecessary information if I turned this in as a paper. There was a ton of information that felt like it was included to A. bulk up the book and B. to make the author sound even more intelligent (which didn't feel necessary, he seems smart without the random facts sprinkled in).
My final thoughts as that if you want to read about the institution of the MCV and the long history of medical malpractice in the United States that relates particularly to the unlawful procurement of cadavers, as well as the case where a black man's organs were taken unlawfully, then you might want to look into this one. If you just want to read about what happened to Bruce Tucker and the court case that followed, well it's in here, but you'll have to do a lot of digging to read it. It is well written, but the book is incredibly unfocused and annoying to follow.
October 17, 2021
Update 10172022: This book was awarded the 2021 Library of Virginia best non-fiction award.
Chip Jones covers much ground in The Organ Thieves- the early days of heart transplants within the context of racial conflicts, justified mistrust, medical professionals rivalries, and then unresolved legal and ethical standards that later evolved. And then there are those huge egos!
Jones’ writing is clear, his research thorough. The coverage is broad, and may be potentially confusing for those unfamiliar with the field of organ donation and transplantation, as it evolved to the current era. The era of Lower and Hume was the Wild West!
Thankfully times have changed, at least some.
Organ donors include both living and decedent donors. Declaration of death legally includes both cardiac and neurological definitions and standards. In the US state law stipulates this process. The consent process and consent form include key elements dictated by federal and international laws. The was not the case in the early days of transplantation.
A protocol developed at MCV in the late 1990s- and used to model practice at other institutions- mandates spiritual/emotional support for potential donors families once a clinical trigger point of neurological damage is identified. These support personnel, referred to as family communication coordinators, are extensively trained in ethical, legal, clinical aspects of the donation process and serve to translate and assure family understanding of these difficult topics. Regardless of the decision about donation, support is provided families throughout the crisis event to its end.
Organs are donated in the US by declaration by potential donors ( think drivers license designations) or by donor families/POA and are compiled in state and national registries. On the organ procurement side, Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) are regional entities who provide the clinical and administrative tasks required, and offer spiritual and emotional support for donor families. On the organ distribution side, The overall supply/ demand distribution of transplantable organs is proved by UNOS, the national organ sharing network. National standards identify needs and standards for distribution. This system continues to improve efficiencies in the distribution of transplantable organs as aided by information technologies.
And more than hearts and kidneys are donated- a maximum of eight solid organs, corneas, skin, and more. Rejection rates are vastly improved. Transplantation today owes much to the clinical trail blazing of those mentioned in Jones’ book.
But some things haven’t changed. On racial disparities: African American donation rates- and access to medical care in general- still lag behind other racial/ethic groups, often significantly. The distrust in the medical establishment described in The Organ Thieves remains the sad legacy of our nation’s past. Chip Jones’ chronicle is a reminder that much can still be done.
Chip Jones covers much ground in The Organ Thieves- the early days of heart transplants within the context of racial conflicts, justified mistrust, medical professionals rivalries, and then unresolved legal and ethical standards that later evolved. And then there are those huge egos!
Jones’ writing is clear, his research thorough. The coverage is broad, and may be potentially confusing for those unfamiliar with the field of organ donation and transplantation, as it evolved to the current era. The era of Lower and Hume was the Wild West!
Thankfully times have changed, at least some.
Organ donors include both living and decedent donors. Declaration of death legally includes both cardiac and neurological definitions and standards. In the US state law stipulates this process. The consent process and consent form include key elements dictated by federal and international laws. The was not the case in the early days of transplantation.
A protocol developed at MCV in the late 1990s- and used to model practice at other institutions- mandates spiritual/emotional support for potential donors families once a clinical trigger point of neurological damage is identified. These support personnel, referred to as family communication coordinators, are extensively trained in ethical, legal, clinical aspects of the donation process and serve to translate and assure family understanding of these difficult topics. Regardless of the decision about donation, support is provided families throughout the crisis event to its end.
Organs are donated in the US by declaration by potential donors ( think drivers license designations) or by donor families/POA and are compiled in state and national registries. On the organ procurement side, Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) are regional entities who provide the clinical and administrative tasks required, and offer spiritual and emotional support for donor families. On the organ distribution side, The overall supply/ demand distribution of transplantable organs is proved by UNOS, the national organ sharing network. National standards identify needs and standards for distribution. This system continues to improve efficiencies in the distribution of transplantable organs as aided by information technologies.
And more than hearts and kidneys are donated- a maximum of eight solid organs, corneas, skin, and more. Rejection rates are vastly improved. Transplantation today owes much to the clinical trail blazing of those mentioned in Jones’ book.
But some things haven’t changed. On racial disparities: African American donation rates- and access to medical care in general- still lag behind other racial/ethic groups, often significantly. The distrust in the medical establishment described in The Organ Thieves remains the sad legacy of our nation’s past. Chip Jones’ chronicle is a reminder that much can still be done.
June 27, 2021
The Organ Thieves is a truly horrific exposé on the mistreatment of black people in America, which sadly remains true today. Although Henrietta Lacks has now become a household name thanks to Rebecca Skloot's seminal work The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, there have been many other victims of the systemic racism in medical research whose voices have not been heard. Just two years after the Civil Rights after of 1964, an African American by the name of Bruce Tucker was admitted to Medical College of Virginia after sustaining a serious head injury at his workplace. Less than 24 hours later, Bruce's heart was beating inside the chest of a Caucasian businessman. The Tucker family was never properly informed of: (a) Bruce's admittance to the hospital and (b) the harvesting of his organs. It was only when the mortician prepared Bruce's body for burial did the family realize he was missing his heart and kidneys. Thus launched an independent investigation and a shocking legal battle to determine whether hospitals were deliberately allowing patients of color to die in order to harvest their organs. In addition to focusing on the life and death of Bruce Tucker, the book dives into the early history of racial inequality in the South, medical malpractice in the pursuit of scientific research, and the resulting legal precedents. Chip Jones' writing covers a myriad of topics, some of which were extremely relevant or interesting and others less so. Regardless, Jones brings to the forefront a disturbing topic that deserves more awareness. In light of recent events, I'd like to point out that even now "racial and ethnic minorities receive lower-quality health care than white people—even when insurance status, income, age, and severity of conditions are comparable" (source: National Academy of Medicine). Covid-19, for example, disproportionately affects black communities; African Americans have died at a rate of 50.3 per 100,000 people, compared with 20.7 for whites, 22.9 for Latinos and 22.7 for Asian Americans.
Full disclosure: I received an advance reading copy of The Organ Thieves by Chip Jones, and my review is based on an uncorrected proof. This book will be available in bookstores on August 18, 2020.
Full disclosure: I received an advance reading copy of The Organ Thieves by Chip Jones, and my review is based on an uncorrected proof. This book will be available in bookstores on August 18, 2020.
August 26, 2020
I picked this one up expecting a story somewhat like The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks or The Radium Girls but it was so much more than that. It doesn't read as a story throughout but it gives quite the comprehensive history of the study of anatomy and progress towards organ transplantation in the US. The dark undercurrent is that much of the progress was made by taking advantage of minorities and the poor. The book details serious offenses against humanity including grave robbing and organ stealing, that was mostly overlooked... or even pardoned because the victims were deemed less than. It's very heavy on the science and history, so be prepared for that going in.
This book goes into all of the aspects that made Richmond what it was at the time of the accident that leads to Bruce Tucker's stolen organs. From the first settling through the tobacco trade which lead to the uptick in slavery, through the Civil War and on through the continued marginalization of African Americans. The perfect storm of crimes against the black community is described with hit upon painful hit of human rights violations leading right up to the day Bruce falls off a fence, hits his head and is handed back to his family sans his heart and kidneys.
This book will shock and horrify you but it is so important that we acknowledge the truths of history and do what we can to right the wrongs. We owe a great debt to these unspoken heroes who unwittingly and unwillingly donated their bodies for experimentation with no compensation to them or their families, like Henrietta Lacks and Bruce Tucker, without these nameless people we wouldn't have half the medical advances we have today.
Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for providing me with a review copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book goes into all of the aspects that made Richmond what it was at the time of the accident that leads to Bruce Tucker's stolen organs. From the first settling through the tobacco trade which lead to the uptick in slavery, through the Civil War and on through the continued marginalization of African Americans. The perfect storm of crimes against the black community is described with hit upon painful hit of human rights violations leading right up to the day Bruce falls off a fence, hits his head and is handed back to his family sans his heart and kidneys.
This book will shock and horrify you but it is so important that we acknowledge the truths of history and do what we can to right the wrongs. We owe a great debt to these unspoken heroes who unwittingly and unwillingly donated their bodies for experimentation with no compensation to them or their families, like Henrietta Lacks and Bruce Tucker, without these nameless people we wouldn't have half the medical advances we have today.
Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for providing me with a review copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 7, 2020
I received an advanced reader's copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways. I liked this book...but at the same time, I found it dragging a bit in the middle. It definitely covers more than just the "first heart transplant in the segregated south." It actually spends a few chapters giving an interesting overview of medical experiments and research in the south going back to before the Civil War. I don't know what it was specifically about this book that is keeping me from giving it a higher rating...If I could do half stars, I would give it 3.5. I think it didn't help that it covered much more information than the title led on. Also it was disappointing to learn that Bruce Tucker's family never really got justice...I felt like the book ended without any closure for the readers who were really rooting for Bruce and his family getting the recognition they deserve (of course this isn't really the author's fault, it was just disappointing to read). I was also so curious and confused why Bruce Tucker's son refused to speak with the author, but I appreciated the chapter at the end of the book about the author's interaction with him. The story itself is so interesting, and I just wish there could have been more interviews and insight from the people who were there at the time. Of course, that is not the author's fault, but the fact that this story is finally being written approximately 50 years after everything happened.
December 11, 2020
This is such a difficult book to read. That being said, it is a story that needs to be told. I did find that the book dragged a bit at times. At other times, I had to put it down because I found it emotionally painful and draining.
It is horrific what happened to Bruce Tucker and I am so very angry and sickened that justice was not done. It is terrible what his family had to go through and the obvious pain it obviously still causes his son.
Although I did find the book a bit dry and slow at times, it should be one that everyone should read. It is another example of the racism that African Americans still suffer to this day. We need to be aware of injustices like this if we are serious about ending racism.
I am glad the author wrote this book. I can imagine it must have been difficut to research and it obvious why he wrote the book. I just hope that others do read it, and I also hope that there is something that can be done for Bruce Tucker's son. This may have happened long ago but it is still affecting others to this day.
It is horrific what happened to Bruce Tucker and I am so very angry and sickened that justice was not done. It is terrible what his family had to go through and the obvious pain it obviously still causes his son.
Although I did find the book a bit dry and slow at times, it should be one that everyone should read. It is another example of the racism that African Americans still suffer to this day. We need to be aware of injustices like this if we are serious about ending racism.
I am glad the author wrote this book. I can imagine it must have been difficut to research and it obvious why he wrote the book. I just hope that others do read it, and I also hope that there is something that can be done for Bruce Tucker's son. This may have happened long ago but it is still affecting others to this day.
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March 31, 2022DNF: I was disappointed when I reached a certain point in this book where an untrue statement was made. When that happens in a nonfiction book, it’s a deal breaker for me and I start to question the accuracy of your research. I’m very disappointed, because this is an interesting topic, but I’ll just have to find other articles and documentaries.
January 13, 2022
Okay so content wise I would give this a 4, and for all the research and effort he went to tell this story is a 4. Organization wise and telling wise I would give it a 3/3.5.
The author is able to breakdown a specific instance in history and cover a lot of background on a very sensitive subject. Although many people were led to believe this was all about the trial, this book is a lot of background and insight into medicines dark past, especially that of Richmond’s medical college (which personally I actually enjoyed). Many topics include racism in medical experimentation, transplantation, and social interactions with medical professionals. Also broaches transplantation experimentation in general medical consents, etc. The specific case the author chose also tackles the subject of the determination of what it means to be “dead,” but also pushes us to consider social death of patients and doctors allowing themselves to play God in the pressure of pursuing greatness; all of this also, in a time and place where segregation was very prominent for most of its past, and continued to effect the community for decades.
The author had a tendency to throw in other events of historical significance at the time which threw me off cause I felt it deviated from the flow the story, and it was jarring at times. Otherwise, even though it was filled with much research and data, it was written in a friendly and interesting way on a topic that is difficult to get across to people unfamiliar with this world. I enjoyed it and felt the author told a story that needed to be told and should be shared. There was injustice done, and no form of justice had ever been restored to this patient or his family. The author did his best to tell his story and persons involved, and seek us all to be the true jury for Bruce Tucker’s injustice.
Overall maybe 3.75 but I’ll give a 4
The author is able to breakdown a specific instance in history and cover a lot of background on a very sensitive subject. Although many people were led to believe this was all about the trial, this book is a lot of background and insight into medicines dark past, especially that of Richmond’s medical college (which personally I actually enjoyed). Many topics include racism in medical experimentation, transplantation, and social interactions with medical professionals. Also broaches transplantation experimentation in general medical consents, etc. The specific case the author chose also tackles the subject of the determination of what it means to be “dead,” but also pushes us to consider social death of patients and doctors allowing themselves to play God in the pressure of pursuing greatness; all of this also, in a time and place where segregation was very prominent for most of its past, and continued to effect the community for decades.
The author had a tendency to throw in other events of historical significance at the time which threw me off cause I felt it deviated from the flow the story, and it was jarring at times. Otherwise, even though it was filled with much research and data, it was written in a friendly and interesting way on a topic that is difficult to get across to people unfamiliar with this world. I enjoyed it and felt the author told a story that needed to be told and should be shared. There was injustice done, and no form of justice had ever been restored to this patient or his family. The author did his best to tell his story and persons involved, and seek us all to be the true jury for Bruce Tucker’s injustice.
Overall maybe 3.75 but I’ll give a 4
August 12, 2025
Extremely important, meticulous book. 5 stars for thorough research. I learned so much and deeply appreciate the authors work to uncover this complex history.
As a narrative, I’d give it maybe 2 or 3 stars so I settled on 3.5 as an over all rating. It’s like when someone is telling a long-winded story and adds every possible detail that might be relevant. I think it would have benefitted from more editing to eliminate redundancies and create a more fluid, connected storyline. Much of the first third reads like a history textbook, but if you stick with it, the remainder of the story flows more and is worth the effort! I also really appreciated the photos of key places and people at the back of the book.
As a narrative, I’d give it maybe 2 or 3 stars so I settled on 3.5 as an over all rating. It’s like when someone is telling a long-winded story and adds every possible detail that might be relevant. I think it would have benefitted from more editing to eliminate redundancies and create a more fluid, connected storyline. Much of the first third reads like a history textbook, but if you stick with it, the remainder of the story flows more and is worth the effort! I also really appreciated the photos of key places and people at the back of the book.
November 11, 2020
the writing is a little stilted, but the story is down-right one that needs to be told.
July 28, 2024
I really tried but reading this was like talking to a toddler. A toddler who has really important information but no capacity for picking out relevant and significant details so they have to tell you everything that ever happened to anyone.
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