Body Worlds

[jayem]

Body Worlds 3 starts here in St. Louis on Friday. Anyone seen one of these exhibitions? Got my tickets. Can't wait to see it. There was an article in the paper that some people think this raises moral issues. They consider it more of a freak show than a true educational experience. But the bodies are all donated with full informed consent. In fact, the families have to pay to have the bodies sent to the California facility where the plastination process is performed. I don't see any ethical problems at all, and I hope it stimulates young people's interest in biology and the health sciences.

(This is worlds better than the old Visible Man and Visible Woman models I had as a kid. Anyone remember these?)

 

[TheManeki]

I remember when one of those came through my neck of the woods. I didn't see the exhibit, but a friend of mine (Thaumaturgy, actually) did and enjoyed it.

Most of the bodies were from China, and were donated. Of course, some comedians around here wondered how willing the donors were.

 

[Pogue]

I don't have a moral problem with it, as long as everyone donated willingly, and I see no reason to suppose that they hadn't. I actually find it quite fascinating

 

[happydance]

I hope it returns to my area. I missed it last time .

 

[levi501]

I saw the one in Toronto with the pregnant woman with the fetus inside. Did the fetus consent?!

kidding... no its an amazing exhibit and well worth going. Fascinating.

 

[JohnLocke]

Ethically? No, I've no problems with it. I won't attend such an exhibit for many reasons some as high minded as I think it is a terrible way to treat a body to the more mundane, cadavers and displayed organs make me queasy.

Personally, it's not what I would prefer. Even bodies donated to science to teach med students anatomy and the like, I think should be given a proper internment/cremation or however the deceased person thought one should treat the dead. This is just one of those areas where my head has to rule my heart. I'm willing to allow people to make that decision but it hurts me that they do so. To me it's kind of like abortion, there are reasons for it, reasons against it, I'm personally against it, but I don't feel I've a right or obligation to prevent it at gunpoint.


Peace