Contemporary Museum Policies and the Ethics of Accepting Human Remains

Edgar, Heather J. H.; Rautman, Anna L.M.

doi:10.1111/cura.12064

“…Skeletal reference collections are a unique scientific and cultural resource for biological anthropologists, particularly those specialising in the human skeleton. The continuing and increasing study of old reference collections (Albanese 2003(Albanese , 2018Komar and Grivas 2008;Cardoso and Marinho 2016;Muller et al 2017) and the amassing of new Cemetery-Based Human Skeletal Reference Collections series is evidence of the scientific significance of this resource (Komar and Grivas 2008;Shirley et al 2011;Alemán et al 2012;Bosio et al 2012;Martinez 2013;Edgar and Rautman 2014;Go et al 2017;Sanabria-Medina et al 2016). The amassing, study and long-term conservation of these collections has occurred within two large and distinct traditions: (1) that of anatomy-and donated-derived collections in traditionally Protestant countries, particularly within the Anglophone world, and (2) that of cemetery-derived collections in traditionally Roman Catholic countries, particularly in mainland western and southern Europe and Latin America.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To the Anglophone biological anthropology audience, the social history behind the development of many of the anatomy-and, more recently, donation-based collections is fairly well-known and their background has been carefully examined (Hunt and Albanese 2005;Christensen 2006;Kern 2006;Shirley et al 2011;Watkins and Muller 2015;Weiss 2015;Muller et al 2017). In addition, a comprehensive ethical framework for the use of these anatomy-or donation-derived collections has been developing and debated for some time (Christensen 2006;Edgar and Rautman 2014;Holland 2015;Weiss 2015). A good understanding of the differences between anatomy-/donated-and cemetery-derived collections will help researchers and other stakeholders to make more informed choices about research potential and limitations, and regarding how to address management issues and ethical dilemmas.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

An Ethical, Cultural and Historical Background for Cemetery-Based Human Skeletal Reference Collections

Cardoso

¹

2021

JCA

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OPEN ACCESS-PAID-CC BY-NC-ND In historically Protestant countries, human skeletal reference collections curated by research institutions have been amassed from bodies dissected by anatomists, typically unclaimed cadavers from morgues and hospitals, or from remains donated to science. In contrast to these anatomy-based and donation-based collections, skeletal reference collections in historically Roman Catholic countries on mainland Europe and in Latin America are for the most part derived from unclaimed remains exhumed from modern cemeteries and ossuaries at the end of the mandated interment period. While much has been written in English about the history, context and ethical framework of anatomy-derived collections, cemetery-based collections have received very little critical attention. The current paper addresses this gap, with particular reference to cemetery-derived collections in Portugal. The cultural and historical context of southern Europe is discussed, particularly Roman Catholic mortuary traditions and the influence of the Napoleonic Code, and these provide the background for an overview of the ethical issues raised by cemetery-derived collections. Here, general principles that should guide the work of human osteologists working in archaeological contexts are relevant, as regards consent, dignity and respect and benefits to science and education, because unlike their anatomy-derived counterparts, cemetery-based collections include individuals who were once buried.

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“…Changes to museum ethical principles has resulted in fewer museums accepting human remains than before, but there continue to be situations where acquisition is considered appropriate. Swain (2002) and Heather Edgar & Anna Rautman (2014) have discussed contemporary museum acquisition policies for human remains which exist to facilitate their proper care. These two cases, discussed below, provide examples where collecting remains is justified by wider ethical principles, highlighting that a blanket ethical policy against collecting human remains is simplistic.…”

Section: Justificationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Pound of Flesh: Human Remains, Ethics and Museums in Tertiary Education

Milnes

0

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<p>The collection and display of human remains has long been accepted within many cultures and religions. However, in contemporary Western society the practice has become contentious, and acquisition by museums has all but ceased. Among academic and museum communities, debate and discussion on the problem have been centred almost entirely on indigenous repatriation claims and Body Worlds exhibitions, to the exclusion of other aspects of what is in fact a much broader issue. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the question of whether human remains can ever justifiably be collected and held by museums. The focus of the study is the situation of health science disciplinary museums within tertiary education, with specific and detailed reference to the W.D. Trotter Anatomy Museum and the Drennan Pathology Museum at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Three interconnected aspects of the topic are considered in order to answer the primary question. The first is an examination of the codes of ethics and professional practice that govern the treatment of human remains; the second reviews the justifications commonly given for the use of human remains; and the third aspect considers the role museums play in tertiary education. Documentary sources, exhibitions and interviews were analysed to address these issues and corroborate evidence. Examined together, these three areas of investigation bring a fresh focus on whether the acquisition and retention of human remains can be justified, at least within certain parameters. This study concludes that in the particular educational context of the health science teaching museum there is a strong justification for continued acquisition and display, albeit in a highly regulated and clearly defined ethical environment, of human remains. A key outcome of the research is that the most important consideration across all three areas of investigation, and for all groups working with human remains, was the concept of respect. Definitions and expressions of respect differed depending on context and professional boundaries, but within specific ethical parameters it is possible to determine that the collection and retention of human remains can be justified.</p>

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“…Changes to museum ethical principles has resulted in fewer museums accepting human remains than before, but there continue to be situations where acquisition is considered appropriate. Swain (2002) and Heather Edgar & Anna Rautman (2014) have discussed contemporary museum acquisition policies for human remains which exist to facilitate their proper care. These two cases, discussed below, provide examples where collecting remains is justified by wider ethical principles, highlighting that a blanket ethical policy against collecting human remains is simplistic.…”

Section: Justificationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Pound of Flesh: Human Remains, Ethics and Museums in Tertiary Education

Milnes¹

1

0

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<p>The collection and display of human remains has long been accepted within many cultures and religions. However, in contemporary Western society the practice has become contentious, and acquisition by museums has all but ceased. Among academic and museum communities, debate and discussion on the problem have been centred almost entirely on indigenous repatriation claims and Body Worlds exhibitions, to the exclusion of other aspects of what is in fact a much broader issue. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the question of whether human remains can ever justifiably be collected and held by museums. The focus of the study is the situation of health science disciplinary museums within tertiary education, with specific and detailed reference to the W.D. Trotter Anatomy Museum and the Drennan Pathology Museum at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Three interconnected aspects of the topic are considered in order to answer the primary question. The first is an examination of the codes of ethics and professional practice that govern the treatment of human remains; the second reviews the justifications commonly given for the use of human remains; and the third aspect considers the role museums play in tertiary education. Documentary sources, exhibitions and interviews were analysed to address these issues and corroborate evidence. Examined together, these three areas of investigation bring a fresh focus on whether the acquisition and retention of human remains can be justified, at least within certain parameters. This study concludes that in the particular educational context of the health science teaching museum there is a strong justification for continued acquisition and display, albeit in a highly regulated and clearly defined ethical environment, of human remains. A key outcome of the research is that the most important consideration across all three areas of investigation, and for all groups working with human remains, was the concept of respect. Definitions and expressions of respect differed depending on context and professional boundaries, but within specific ethical parameters it is possible to determine that the collection and retention of human remains can be justified.</p>

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Contemporary Museum Policies and the Ethics of Accepting Human Remains

Cited by 6 publications

References 4 publications

An Ethical, Cultural and Historical Background for Cemetery-Based Human Skeletal Reference Collections

An Ethical, Cultural and Historical Background for Cemetery-Based Human Skeletal Reference Collections

A Pound of Flesh: Human Remains, Ethics and Museums in Tertiary Education

A Pound of Flesh: Human Remains, Ethics and Museums in Tertiary Education

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