Legislation for cadaver procurement for teaching anatomy in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Cadaver-based teaching remain as an integral and imperative component of anatomy education. In the past, bodies obtained from execution, grave robbing, and murder were used to carry out cadaveric dissection. It appears that body donation and the procurement of unclaimed bodies are the typical methods that are currently employed for such purposes universally. The former method is recommended by the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists. Body donation in Sri Lanka is governed by the legislation, and the policies of medical institutions. Therefore, any request for body donation that does not meet the requirements of both the legislation and the individual medical institution will not be accepted. This manuscript aims to review the current legislation of the country along with other selected international laws and guidelines pertaining to procurement of bodies for anatomy education.