I See Dead People: Insights From the Humanities Into the Nature of Plastinated Cadavers

King, Mike; Whitaker, Maja I.; Jones, David G.

doi:10.1007/s10912-013-9230-z

Cited by 16 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…All in their different ways uncover the human aspects of the dead body and the social and philosophical challenges presented by dissection. The literature on the public exhibitions of dissected plastinated cadavers and body parts, and the meaning of these plastinated human remains, is a growing one across a broad span of disciplines within the humanities (King et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human body donation programs inSriLanka: Buddhist perspectives

Subasinghe

Jones

2015

Anatomical Sciences Ed

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Considerable attention is being given to the availability of bodies for anatomical education. This raises the question of the manner in which they are obtained, that is, whether they are unclaimed or donated. With increasing emphasis upon the ethical desirability of using body bequests, the spotlight tends to be focused on those countries with factors that militate against donations. However, little attention has been paid to cultures where donations are readily available. One such country is Sri Lanka where the majority of the Buddhist population follows Theravada Buddhism. Within this context, the expectation is that donations will be given selflessly without expecting anything in return. This is because donation of one's body has blessings for a better outcome now and in the afterlife. The ceremonies to honor donors are outlined, including details of the "Pirith Ceremony." The relevance for other cultures of these features of body donation is discussed paying especial attention to the meaning of altruism and consent, and justification for the anonymization of cadavers. The degree to which anatomy is integrated into the surrounding culture also emerges as significant.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human body donation programs inSriLanka: Buddhist perspectives

Subasinghe

Jones

2015

Anatomical Sciences Ed

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“…[30] for references). They are directed at the general public and not at medical and other heath science academics and students.…”

Section: Anatomy Exposed To Public Gaze: Plastinationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The efect is frequently dramatic and awe inspiring, and prompts reactions of wonderment at the beauty and complexity of the human body. For some, this positive side is matched by complete rejection on the ground that they are a travesty: disgusting, disconcerting, demeaning, and dehumanizing [30]. What has been fascinating is that initial objections to them have come mainly from anatomists [35,36] and religious leaders [37][38][39].…”

Section: Anatomy Exposed To Public Gaze: Plastinationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…King et al [30] argue that plastinates do not occupy standard cultural binary categories such as interior or exterior, real or fake, dead or alive, bodies or persons, and self or other. This is because they transgress the usual boundaries by which we describe and understand the world.…”

Section: Anatomy Exposed To Public Gaze: Plastinationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They refuse to be pigeon-holed, no mater how hard we try. Even the simplest designation of dead or alive escapes us [30,54]. They are representations of real bodies [46,57], having been modiied to produce something that is an artiicial representation of perfected nature [48].…”

Section: Anatomy Exposed To Public Gaze: Plastinationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Human Anatomy: A Review of the Science, Ethics and Culture of a Discipline in Transition

Jones¹

2017

Human Anatomy - Reviews and Medical Advances

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Anatomy has undergone radical changes over its history, and even now its appearance varies between audiences. Within academia, it has frequently been seen as the bastion of medical teaching, even as a handmaid of surgery. To the general public over recent years, it is represented by the enormously popular public exhibitions of plastinated cadavers and body parts. Increasingly within medical teaching, it has acquired a far more humanistic face, epitomized by ceremonies at the start and end of dissection to connect the dead body with the once living individual and his/her families. Modern anatomy has also developed a strong research ethos. These movements can be traced in the many editions of Gray's Anatomy, from 1858 to the present day. However, the humanistic side of anatomy reminds us that anatomy is not merely a science, since its ethical dimensions are legion as it has transformed from a dubiously moral and barely legal activity to one that now aims to manifest the highest of ethical standards. Nevertheless, it continues to have challenging dimensions, such as its ongoing dependence upon the use of unclaimed bodies in many societies. These challenges are reminders that anatomy does not remain stationary.

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Maintaining the anonymity of cadavers in medical education: Historic relic or educational and ethical necessity?

Jones

King

2016

Anatomical Sciences Ed

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Throughout the modern history of anatomical dissection by medical and other health science students, cadavers have been anonymized. This has meant that students have been provided with limited, if any, information on the identities or medical histories of those they are dissecting. While there was little way around this when the bodies were unclaimed, this need not be the case when the bodies have been donated. However, with a few exceptions, no efforts have been made to change this model. Recent attempts to move anatomy teaching in a more humanistic direction, by emphasizing the cadaver as the students' first patient and with the growth of commemoration services following the dissecting process, raise the question of whether cadavers should continue to be anonymized. In laying a basis for discussion of this matter, we outline what appear to be the virtues of anonymity, and the form that alternatives to anonymity might take. The options identified are nonidentification, low information; nonidentification, moderate information; and identification, full information. The virtues and drawbacks of each of these possibilities are assessed by analyzing their value for students, and also for donors and their families. Policy issues raised by alternatives are also considered. This article provides a basis for continued discussion and suggestions for further research in this area. Anat Sci Educ 10: 87-97. © 2016 American Association of Anatomists.

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I See Dead People: Insights From the Humanities Into the Nature of Plastinated Cadavers

Cited by 16 publications

References 39 publications

Human body donation programs inSriLanka: Buddhist perspectives

Human body donation programs inSriLanka: Buddhist perspectives

Human Anatomy: A Review of the Science, Ethics and Culture of a Discipline in Transition

Maintaining the anonymity of cadavers in medical education: Historic relic or educational and ethical necessity?

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