A summary of ethical review of Body Worlds: An
Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies
Nome:
Leandro Martins da Silva
The summary of ethical review of the article Body Worlds: An Anatomical Exhibition of
Real Human Bodies presents some relevant discussion that has been
considered as the central point for the bioethics today, particularly when it
concerns the dignity of the human person. The article states and acknowledges
the complexity and the controversies of the exhibition of human bodies in the
world, specifically in some cultures where the person is still seen in its
sacredness and in its inviolability. From an ethical point of view the article
also consider necessary evaluate ethically the goal of the exhibition, why the
bodies or different parts of a body have been donated and what are the legal
procedure for such expositions are also part of the main reflection.
It is taken
for granted the contribution made by the professor of bioethics Dr. Hans-Martin
Sass in Heidelberg. He, on behalf of the Science Center for the exhibition of
human bodies, traveled to the Body World’s offices throughout Germany and
visited the Institute for Plastination in Heidelberg in order to verify
ethically and carefully all the donor consent forms and death certificates and
see if all the 206 bodies there publicly exhibited have been donated for the
purpose of public exhibition. Such research has got positive results and have
concluded that 180 out of 206 of the donors have agreed that the body would be
exhibited for educational purposes.
But
considering the relevance of some controversies and some possible disrespect
against the body, the article highlights that it is necessary to consider some decisions
made by the California Science Center. That Center based on the recommendations
of the Ethics committee and of the special bioethics’ advisors solicitate three
main points: that any «exhibit presentation need to be respectful»; there
should be a minimum age limit for the exhibit, if not, all children under 13
should be accompanied by an adult responsible person; the visitors should be
encouraged to reverence and respect the bodies (RUDOLPH, pp. 6-9).
All these
exhibitions of platinated human bodies or human organs must be respected according
to cultural, religious, social and ethical values. It is true that all these
recommendations are essentials and are based on human rights, but none of them in
the article testify clearly about the dignity of the human person as being of
image and likeness of God.
Bibliography
RUDOLPH, J. N., et al. «Body Worlds: An Anatomical
Exhibition of Real Human Bodies», in California Science Center, (2009) 1-9.
Accessed on 21st of December 2018.
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