Abstract
BackgroundAnatomy Act provides legal ambit to medical educationists for the acquisition of cadavers. The changing medical education scenario, socio-demographic change, and ethical concerns have necessitated an urgent review of its legal and ethical framework. Suitable amendments addressing the current disparities and deficiencies are long overdue.MethodsAnatomy Act in India is a state Act, which ensures the provision of human bodies for medical education and research.The methodology included three components namely:Comparison of various Anatomy Acts clause by clause,Feedback from anatomists, andFormulation of comprehensive model Anatomy Act.ResultsVarious Acts studied showed discrepancies in the purpose of the Act, roles and duties of stakeholders, regulation for body donation, the procedure to handle unclaimed bodies, disposal of dissected bodies, etc. No Act defines a donor and neither addresses the issue of transport of anatomical material. Only ten states have a clause for body donation. Acts of only six states have been amended over the last 50 years. Three states denied having an Act. The whole exercise of review of Acts, extensive feedback received from end-users, and taking into account global good practices, culminated in drafting a comprehensive model Anatomy Act founded on ethical principles.ConclusionIndia, with the largest number of medical colleges, is not only at the forefront but also a hub of medical education in the Southeast Asia region. Legal reform can be a torchbearer to promote ethical and transparent practices for obtaining cadavers for other countries of the region with similar socio-demography and shall also motivate anatomic fraternity across the globe for critical analysis of their respective Anatomy Acts.
Highlights
Anatomy Act provides legal ambit to medical educationists for the acquisition of cadavers
The whole exercise of review of Acts, extensive feedback received from end-users, and taking into account global good practices, culminated in drafting a comprehensive model Anatomy Act founded on ethical principles
It gave legal licenses to teachers and students of anatomy to dissect unclaimed and donated bodies [5]. This legislation became an instrument for the oppression of the poor and destitute. Such practices were curbed after willed body programs/ functional bequest programs came into practice in the latter half of the twentieth-century and donations started to happen for medical education [4]
Summary
Anatomy Act provides legal ambit to medical educationists for the acquisition of cadavers. To impress the necessity for altering the law upon the government, an Anatomical Society was formed around 1810 The efforts of this body gave rise to the formation of a select committee to report on the question in 1828. It gave legal licenses to teachers and students of anatomy to dissect unclaimed and donated bodies [5]. This legislation became an instrument for the oppression of the poor and destitute. Such practices were curbed after willed body programs/ functional bequest programs came into practice in the latter half of the twentieth-century and donations started to happen for medical education [4]
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