Legal and Ethical Aspects of Anatomy

Question 1

What are the bodies donated for anatomical experiments used for?

Answer 1

• Undergraduate and postgraduate teaching

- Research activity

Question 2

How long are cadavers (donated specimens) kept for?

Answer 2

• 2-3 years

Question 3

What is a prosection?

Answer 3

• Parts that are retained after completion of an anatomical examination.
• They are dissected specimens that are used for teaching a specific area of anatomy
• They can be retained for as long as is useful

Question 4

What happens when bodies are embalmed?

Answer 4

• Bodies are flushed with formaldehyde (gas) or formalin (liquid) which fixes tissue and prevents degradation.
• This allows them to be useful for teaching over long periods of time

Question 5

what is the problem with using formaldehyde?

Answer 5

• It is very toxic. Hence it is regulated and its use is controlled.
• Levels of formaldehyde must be monitored

Question 6

What are the different anatomical teaching resources?

Answer 6

• Full cadavers
• Prosections
• Models
• Atlases
• Potted specimens
• Plastinated specimens (body fat and water replaced by a polymer)

Question 7

What office coordinates the distribution of bodies to London medical and dental schools?

Answer 7

• The London Anatomy Office (LAO). It is located in King’s College London

Question 8

What is the exclusion criteria for donated bodies?

Answer 8

• Post-mortem examinations
• Infectious diseases
• Dementia
• Recent operations
• Gross peripheral oedema
• Sever deformity of the spine
• Obesity
• When organs have been donated for transplantation

Question 9

What happens to the donors after the experiments?

Answer 9

• All remains of the individual are placed in a coffin
• Most are cremated
• Families can attend the cremated and receive the ashes

Question 10

What is the Service of Rememberance?

Answer 10

• A non-denominational service held in May that commemorates all the donors from the previous calendar year.
• It is held at St Georges Cathedral and all families of donors are invited

Question 11

What is the Human Tissue Act?

Answer 11

• Permits, with consent, the donation of whole bodies for anatomical examinations
• Allows the storage and examination of a body provided it is carried out by/under the direction of a Designated Individual (D.I) with consent and providing that the death is certified and registered
• If the HTA is not complied with an offense is committed which is liable with a fine or imprisonment

Question 12

What are the students/staffs responsibility according to the HTA?

Answer 12

• All parts of the body must be treated with due respect and consideration
• All body parts must be catalogued, tagged and recorded so that the whole body can be tracked
• All cadavers must have the same numbers on the black tags found on their ear and toe. Furthermore body parts must be placed in bins with the same number as those on the black tag. Only material from that body goes in the bag.
• You must take care of your cadaver and you have a duty of care to the duty of care for those who have donated their bodies and their families

Question 13

What do the Human Tissue Authority do?

Answer 13

• They ensure that human tissue is used safely, ethically and with proper consent
• They regulate organisations that use tissue for different reasons

Question 14

What are the two licenses SGUL hold?

Answer 14

• Anatomy and research

Question 15

What is a Designated Individual (D.I) and a Persons Designated?

Answer 15

• A D.I has a set of legal responsibilities for compliance with HTA on their premises.
• A Persons Designated is assigned by the D.I. to assume some of the responsibilities of the D.I.