New York University is apologizing for sending bodies donated to its medical school to mass graves.
A report published by the New York Times last week found that remains of cadavers donated to NYU's School of Medicine were sent to Hart Island, where the city buries people who are poor or unidentified.
The donors had previously signed forms requesting they be cremated and have their ashes disposed of.
The school has since issued a statement saying:
"The mistakes were tied to a procedural error in which we followed the wishes of the next of kin, who may not have realized what they were agreeing to.
"In 2013, we instituted major changes to our disposition practices for donor remains that will ensure that we honor the donors’ wishes with regard to their remains."