The Useful Dead IV

We have discussed before the ghastly Chinese practice of re-using the body parts of executed prisoners. Now consider the following story from this weekend.

CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - Two packages containing human body parts - including a liver and part of a head - meant for a medical research lab instead were delivered to a home.

The body parts, sent from China, were mistakenly dropped off Thursday at Franck and Ludivine Larmande's home by a DHL express driver who believed the bubble-wrapped items were pieces to a table.

``My husband started to unwrap one and said, 'This is strange, it looks like a liver,''' Ludivine Larmande said. ``He started the second one, but stopped as soon as we saw the ear.

``Something wasn't right. It was scary, and I'm glad I didn't open them.''

The couple called Kent County sheriff's deputies, who determined the preserved body parts were for medical research, Lt. Roger Parent said.

Authorities believe 28 more bubble-wrapped human organs and body parts could be dispersed across the country, The Grand Rapids Press reported. Two of five packages headed to the northern Michigan lab broke open, scattering their contents. MORE

28 more? Is this an everyday thing? Exactly what was this mysterious lab in Michigan going to do with body parts from China? Whose parts were they, and under what circumstances were they removed? Somebody please tell us.