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Researchers Win In Lawsuit Over Brain Collection

ALFRED, Maine (AP) -- A Maine woman who contends her late husband's brain was removed without her consent by researchers has lost her lawsuit.

A jury in York County Superior Court ruled 7-2 Monday in favor of the Stanley Medical Research Institute of Bethesda, Md., and its Maine representative, Matthew Cyr. The institute collected brains for use in the study of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Anne Mozingo of York contended her late husband's entire brain was removed after he died of a brain aneurism in 2000. She said she agreed to donate only tissue samples.

Philip Coffin, who represents Cyr and the institute, said it's common to use the word "organ" for a living organ like a heart,
while referring to others used for research as "tissue."

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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