Ethics of the use of dead human bodies in anatomy teaching in India

Abstract

The study of the human anatomy predominantly requires the use of remains of the dead. Unclaimed bodies are easily available in India; however, there is a lack of clear ethical guidelines governing their transport and exchange. We raise pertinent questions about the ethical implications of using unclaimed bodies in teaching anatomy, their transport, transfer and storage, ethical and legal issues regarding the voluntary donation of bodies and dry human bones, as well as the commercial aspects of body donation. We also examine existing practices in anatomy departments in India, and explore the available legal safeguards. We detail practical and ethical challenges in the existing practices and safeguards and attempt to provide solutions.

New Challenges for Anatomists in the Era of Omics

“…This can limit the availability of study materials for anatomists. In recent years, we assisted an expansion towards "a good body donation practice" in countries with resistant cultural/religious backgrounds, with a strong debate in terms of bioethics, and with an evolution of the regulation and methods/limits in south Europe [20,21] and worldwide [22][23][24].…”