A New Jersey company is accused of failing to gain consent to take tissues from cadavers.  So far, over two dozen lawsuits have been filed in federal courts across the country.

The most famous example involved the body of Alistair Cooke, the longtime host of the PBS series “Masterpiece Theater.” Cooke died of cancer at age 95, and his leg bones were removed and shipped to tissue processors for use in medical procedures.

The Associated Press talked to lawyers representing clients who say medical tests show they have the AIDS or hepatitis virus or syphilis bacteria — all of which can be acquired from infected tissue.  This is very scary and needs to be addressed immediately.