Bioethics Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Clin Anat. 2012 Mar;25(2):246-54. doi: 10.1002/ca.21223. Epub 2011 Jul 28.
The use of unclaimed bodies has been one of the distinguishing features of the anatomy profession since the passing of nineteenth century legislation aimed at solving the problem of grave robbing. Only in more recent years has the use of bequeathed bodies supplanted dependence upon unclaimed bodies in many (but not all) countries. We argue that this dependence has opened the profession to a range of questionable ethical practices. Starting with contraventions of the early Anatomy Acts, we trace the manner in which the legitimacy of using unclaimed bodies has exposed vulnerable groups to dissection without their consent. These groups have included the impoverished, the mentally ill, African Americans, slaves, and stigmatized groups during the Nazi era. Unfortunately, ethical constraints have not been imposed on the use of unclaimed bodies. The major public plastination exhibitions of recent years invite us to revisit these issues, even though some like Body Worlds claim to use bequeathed bodies. The widespread use of unclaimed bodies in institutional settings has lent to these public exhibitions a modicum of legitimacy that is needed even when donated bodies are employed. This is because the notion of donation has changed as demonstrated by consideration of the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence. We conclude that anatomists should cease using unclaimed bodies. Difficult as this will be in some cultures, the challenge for anatomists is to establish relationships of trust with their local communities and show how body donation can assist both the community and the profession.
自 19 世纪旨在解决盗墓问题的立法通过以来，无人认领的尸体的使用一直是解剖学专业的一个显著特征。只有在最近几年，许多（但不是所有）国家的遗体捐献才取代了对无人认领尸体的依赖。我们认为，这种依赖使该行业容易出现一系列有问题的道德做法。从违反早期解剖法案开始，我们追溯了使用无人认领的尸体的合法性是如何使弱势群体在未经同意的情况下被解剖的。这些群体包括贫困者、精神病患者、非裔美国人、奴隶以及纳粹时期被污名化的群体。不幸的是，对无人认领的尸体的使用并没有受到伦理约束。近年来，主要的公众塑化展览邀请我们重新审视这些问题，尽管有些像“人体世界”声称使用的是捐献的尸体。无人认领的尸体在机构环境中的广泛使用使这些公众展览具有一定的合法性，即使使用捐献的尸体也是如此。这是因为正如善和不伤害原则所表明的，捐赠的概念已经发生了变化。我们得出结论，解剖学家应该停止使用无人认领的尸体。尽管在某些文化中这将是困难的，但解剖学家的挑战是与当地社区建立信任关系，并展示遗体捐赠如何能够帮助社区和专业人士。
