Human body donation and surgical training: a narrative review with global perspectives

Abstract

Utilization of human material in surgical simulation training has been well-established as an effective teaching method. Despite the value of donor-based surgical simulation training, its application may be hampered by difficulties regarding access to donated bodies. Therefore, the aim of this review is to assess body donation and body acquisition practices with regard to surgical simulation training programs around the world. The results of this review highlight discrepancies regarding body donation practices and surgical simulation programs among continents and countries. The utilization of donor bodies in surgical simulation appears to mirror body donation practices. In countries that rely mostly or exclusively upon unclaimed bodies or executed criminals, there are scant reports of donor-based surgical simulation programs. In countries where willed-body donation is the principal source of human material, there tend to be many surgical simulation programs that incorporate human material as part of surgical training. This review suggests that, in anatomical and surgical education, the utilization of active willed-body donation programs, as opposed to the utilization of unclaimed human bodies, positively corresponds with the development of beneficial donor-based surgical simulation programs. Likewise, donor-based surgical simulation training programs may have an influence on the perpetualization of willed-body donations.

Enhancing neonatal thoracoscopic surgical training with rabbit model

“…Notably, there have been ongoing debates on the ethical concerns of using animals for single-use lab training. Donated bodies had been advocated as the model of choice for anatomical education, research, and clinical training [ 15 ]; and that the utilization of active willed-body donation programs, positively corresponds with the development of beneficial donor-based surgical simulation programs [ 16 ]. However, their use is limited by the potential ethical concerns and high cost incurred with procurement of human body parts for educational purpose; as well as the challenges of acquiring donated bodies given their scarcity [ [17] , [18] , [19] ].…”

Anatomists' uses of human skeletons: Ethical issues associated with the India bone trade and anonymized archival collections

“…However, it did begin the long process of setting standards for the way in which bodies are obtained, governed by ethical thinking and ethical debate. Even today there is a long way to go before body donation is established worldwide, but a trajectory has been set 22–24 …”

“…Even today there is a long way to go before body donation is established worldwide, but a trajectory has been set. [22][23][24] It is against this background that the acquisition of bones and skeletons should be assessed. Discussions regarding the means of obtaining human skeletons are at a far more preliminary stage, and it has taken the publications of Coman and co-workers 1,9 to bring this to the attention of the wider anatomical community.…”

Giving a voice to our silent teachers: Whole body donation from the donor perspective at one donation program in the United States

“…Dissection of the human body is a crucial part of anatomy education, and the success of this hands‐on educational experience hinges on the anatomical bequests of the individuals who elect to donate their bodies so that others may learn 1 . Additionally, donated bodies are frequently utilized for a variety of research projects and clinical skills training exercises, allowing for advancements in the field of medicine (Zdilla & Balta, 2023) 2 . In the United States (U.S.), body donations are predominantly sourced through whole‐body donation programs (BDPs) housed by academic institutions across the country, state anatomical boards, or for‐profit body donation programs, also known as “body brokers” 3 .…”

“…). 2 In the United States (U.S.), body donations are predominantly sourced through whole-body donation programs (BDPs) housed by academic institutions across the country, state anatomical boards, or for-profit body donation programs, also known as "body brokers". 3 These body donation programs provide the opportunity for altruistic individuals to register as whole-body donors so that they may bequeath their bodies upon death.…”