Abstract
Human cadavers are a scarce resource that have educational, research and clinical value. While the tissues have great value, it is illegal in many countries to pay for them. In the United States, a number of for-profit body acquisition companies have been established over the past decade. These companies obtain bodies which were freely donated by the individuals or their families. The companies distribute the specimens to surgical training organizations, researchers and educational institutions. These businesses do not charge the receiving organizations for the bodies; they do, however, charge a fee that covers the transport, handling and other services which creates a profit for their companies. These types of businesses are described and analyzed as to whether they constitute an ethically appropriate mechanism to obtain and distribute bodies. The role of organizations and governments in establishing policies and regulations for the appropriate treatment of human remains is addressed. Recommendations are given for best practices in the ethical use and regulation of willed bodies.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Clinical Anatomy |
| DOIs | |
| State | Accepted/In press - 2015 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- For-profit donation programs
- Not-for-profit donation programs
- Regulations
- Willed body programs
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Anatomy
- Histology
Cite this
The business of bodies : Ethical perspectives on for-profit body donation companies. / Champney, Thomas H.
In: Clinical Anatomy, 2015.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The business of bodies
T2 - Ethical perspectives on for-profit body donation companies
AU - Champney, Thomas H.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Human cadavers are a scarce resource that have educational, research and clinical value. While the tissues have great value, it is illegal in many countries to pay for them. In the United States, a number of for-profit body acquisition companies have been established over the past decade. These companies obtain bodies which were freely donated by the individuals or their families. The companies distribute the specimens to surgical training organizations, researchers and educational institutions. These businesses do not charge the receiving organizations for the bodies; they do, however, charge a fee that covers the transport, handling and other services which creates a profit for their companies. These types of businesses are described and analyzed as to whether they constitute an ethically appropriate mechanism to obtain and distribute bodies. The role of organizations and governments in establishing policies and regulations for the appropriate treatment of human remains is addressed. Recommendations are given for best practices in the ethical use and regulation of willed bodies.
AB - Human cadavers are a scarce resource that have educational, research and clinical value. While the tissues have great value, it is illegal in many countries to pay for them. In the United States, a number of for-profit body acquisition companies have been established over the past decade. These companies obtain bodies which were freely donated by the individuals or their families. The companies distribute the specimens to surgical training organizations, researchers and educational institutions. These businesses do not charge the receiving organizations for the bodies; they do, however, charge a fee that covers the transport, handling and other services which creates a profit for their companies. These types of businesses are described and analyzed as to whether they constitute an ethically appropriate mechanism to obtain and distribute bodies. The role of organizations and governments in establishing policies and regulations for the appropriate treatment of human remains is addressed. Recommendations are given for best practices in the ethical use and regulation of willed bodies.
KW - For-profit donation programs
KW - Not-for-profit donation programs
KW - Regulations
KW - Willed body programs
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84947967754&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84947967754&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/ca.22643
DO - 10.1002/ca.22643
M3 - Article
C2 - 26474530
JO - Clinical Anatomy
JF - Clinical Anatomy
SN - 0897-3806
ER -