Comments on Bodies: the Exploitation?

I don't think it even matters if Premier can somehow prove that none of the bodies were of murdered political prisoners. Those individuals and their families didn't consent to the cadavers' use. That makes it exploitative.

The Health Department sent out an inspector to look at the claims that the bodies might be dangerous or leak.
The report stated that the claims are without merit.

They came from China. They are almost certainly prisoners. Political prisoners or not, I can't say, but certainly prisoners.

Eh. They're dead. I rather dislike our concept that bodies should be hermetically sealed in a box in the ground, separated from the universe until Judgement Day. Gimme a leaky pine box so I can rot properly and feed the worms, or barring that, preserve me and put me on display.

"There’s no evidence that Premier obtained these bodies illegally or unethically—but then, they haven’t provided any evidence to the contrary."

This is the U.S., where you are innocent until your accuser proves you are guilty. You are not guilty until you prove your own innocence, Brendan.

I think the lawsuit is the pinnacle of irony. A museum whose mission is to explore various mysteries and claims to be educational is suing to stop an exhibit that explores life's mysteries (the function and building blocks of the human machine) and most definitely is educational.

Premier must prove that the bodies *aren't* prisoners? Pretty difficult to prove a negative, especially a dead negative.

By the way, does anyone know what is done with the bodies of the executed in the US? Some are donated to science by consent. If not, where are they buried or cremated and who pays for that expense? It has to be the government, no? Does the government "own" the bodies of prisoners just like they owned the living prisoner? It brings up a some interesting legal paradoxes.

These new plastinate anatomy exhibitions are amazing. The one on display in Boston was one of the more powerful experiences of myself as a mortal and material creature that I have had. But the huge demand for these exhibits seems to have had some perverse effects on the supply.

Compare this frank discussion in the FAQ page of Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS 2:

The BODY WORLDS exhibitions rely on the generosity of body donors, individuals who bequeathed that upon their death, their bodies could be used for educational purposes in the exhibition. All of the full body plastinates and the majority of the specimens are from these body donors; some specific specimens including the fetal development display, and those that show unusual conditions come from old anatomical collections.

Gunther von Hagens doesn't list the names and ages of his subjects, but neither does he mince words about how they ended up on display. Humans have a long history of honoring the dead by treating their remains with some degree of reverence. Asking a person's permission to turn them into a curiosity show is the least you can do, especially since these groups are making a profit off of human remains. If Premier Exhibitions is running as clean a program as von Hagens, they should act like the educational institution they claim to be and educate the public about how a once-living person shows up on display as part of a commercial venture.

"I think the lawsuit is the pinnacle of irony. A museum whose mission is to explore various mysteries and claims to be educational is suing to stop an exhibit that explores life's mysteries (the function and building blocks of the human machine) and most definitely is
educational."

The Seattle Museum of The Mysteries does explore mysteries and have ghost tours, but they do not have naked,skinned, bodies of unconsenting people. We are totally in favor of "exploring life's mysteries" but there is no reason or purpose to do it with naked Chinese unconsenting cadavers, except to attract people who enjoy the "gross-out" factor and pride themselves on getting sick to their stomach, and therefore having the exhibit rake in tons of money. Premier Exhibitions is not a museum, medical institution, or even an educational facility. Its major purpose is to make money for its stockholders.

Von Hagen clean? Who do you think developed the processing plant in Dalian China where these cadavers are made?

"I can't prove the bodies weren't executed, but I believe they weren't" - Gunther von Hagens (real name Liebchen), BBC News Jan. 22, 2004

How convenient.

"This is the U.S., where you are innocent until your accuser proves you are guilty. You are not guilty until you prove your own innocence, Brendan."
-SB

WOW. Are you one of those people who still believes in the US and The Federal Judiciary? wow.

but aside from that...
I think it's a complete exploitation. I also find it suspicious that in all this debate they've stayed undercover and havent hardly said a word about it all. hmm....

Did Hitler ever go to trial?

I think Seattle is figuring out you can't side step the truth.
I also hope the cadavers haunt the exhibitors. We'll probably read about some ancient Chinese curse that comes to people who defile the bodies of the weak and poor.

This exhibition is already banned from several states, countries and cities.

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