56 pages • 1-hour read
The Organ Thieves: The Shocking Story of the First Heart Transplant in the Segregated South
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Book Brief
400
Book • Nonfiction
Richmond, Virginia • 1960s
•
Death•
Social Class•
US History•
Science & Nature2020
Gallery Jeter Publishing
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In The Organ Thieves, Chip Jones reveals the racism and ethical transgressions surrounding the first heart transplant at the Medical College of Virginia in 1968, where Bruce Tucker, an African American man, had his heart removed before legally being declared dead and it was transplanted into a white recipient. The book delves into the institutional racism and exploitation in medical procedures of the time. Discussions of slavery, racial injustice, and medical exploitation are present.
Dark
Unnerving
Informative
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
1,593 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Chip Jones' The Organ Thieves is a gripping exposé on medical ethics and racial exploitation, with reviewers praising its thorough research and compelling narrative. Criticisms focus on its dense detail and disturbing content. Overall, it’s lauded for shedding light on historical injustices in the medical field.
Who Should Read The Organ Thieves?
Readers of The Organ Thieves by Chip Jones will likely enjoy investigative historical works that explore themes of medical ethics, racial injustice, and human rights. Comparable titles include The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot and Medical Apartheid by Harriet A. Washington. Fans of meticulously researched, thought-provoking non-fiction will find this book compelling.
1,593 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
An African American factory worker in Richmond, Virginia, whose experience at MCV became a focal point in Jones's exploration of medical racism and legal inadequacies in medical practices during the 1950s and 1960s.
Bruce Tucker's brother, who ran a cobbler's shop in Richmond, was alerted to anomalies in Bruce's medical treatment, and later testified in the wrongful death lawsuit against MCV.
A lawyer and future governor of Virginia who represented William Tucker in the lawsuit, known for championing civil rights and challenging systemic racism in the legal system.
MCV’s surgery chair who ambitiously pushed for the institution to be at the forefront of transplant surgeries, making crucial decisions during Bruce Tucker's case.
A physician at MCV known for his work in transplant surgeries, who performed MCV’s first human heart transplant involving Bruce Tucker as a donor.
Assistant medical examiner involved in the Bruce Tucker case, who granted permission for organ removal under controversial circumstances.
The judge overseeing the civil trial related to Bruce Tucker’s case, whose rulings significantly shaped the trial’s outcome.
The lead attorney for MCV’s legal defense team, known for his extensive experience in defending physicians and navigating medical malpractice cases.
The second successful heart transplant recipient at MCV, whose case helped improve the institution’s public image following the controversy surrounding Bruce Tucker.
A South African surgeon who visited MCV to learn about heart transplants and is noted for performing the first human heart transplant in the world.
The recipient of Bruce Tucker's heart during MCV's first human heart transplant, a white businessman from Virginia affected by heart issues.
400
Book • Nonfiction
Richmond, Virginia • 1960s
•
Death•
Social Class•
US History•
Science & Nature2020
Gallery Jeter Publishing
Adult
18+ years
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