Thursday, August 18, 2005
ABC News: Crowds and controversy follow human corpse exhibit
"Aug. 18 2005-The exhibition at Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry is designed to offer a graphic, incredibly detailed look at the inner workings of our bodies. But attempts are under way to shut it down, because it features actual human corpses.
'Bodies the Exhibition' is one of several educational touring displays that aim to teach the public about health and the body by showing actual human body parts preserved through a recently developed process known as plastinization.
The exhibit opened today, despite a move from the Florida State Anatomical Board which voted 4-2 to stop the show out of concerns that the people never gave permission for their remains to be displayed. According to the Anatomical Board, such authorization is required by Florida law. The Tampa exhibit uses unclaimed and unidentified cadavers from China.
'I just personally don't think that's an appropriate use of dead human bodies,' said one board member, Phillip Waggoner.
'Their decision is an opinion. There is no law that we understand that governs what it is that we're doing,' said Dr. Roy Glover spokesman for Premiere Exhibitions, which organized the show."
Dr. Glover, how about we put your remains on exhibit after you die?
It shows incredibly bad taste and disrespect for the dead.
But then again, that's only one person's opinion.
'Bodies the Exhibition' is one of several educational touring displays that aim to teach the public about health and the body by showing actual human body parts preserved through a recently developed process known as plastinization.
The exhibit opened today, despite a move from the Florida State Anatomical Board which voted 4-2 to stop the show out of concerns that the people never gave permission for their remains to be displayed. According to the Anatomical Board, such authorization is required by Florida law. The Tampa exhibit uses unclaimed and unidentified cadavers from China.
'I just personally don't think that's an appropriate use of dead human bodies,' said one board member, Phillip Waggoner.
'Their decision is an opinion. There is no law that we understand that governs what it is that we're doing,' said Dr. Roy Glover spokesman for Premiere Exhibitions, which organized the show."
Dr. Glover, how about we put your remains on exhibit after you die?
It shows incredibly bad taste and disrespect for the dead.
But then again, that's only one person's opinion.
