Legal Frameworks Upholding Deceased Individuals’ Rights and Enabling the Use of Cadavers in Anatomy Education and Research: A Systematic Review

Abstract

AbstractThe study of human cadavers is essential for teaching, advanced training, and research in medical and anatomical sciences. Medical institutions, around the globe presently face the scarcity of cadaver supply. For the majority of countries, unclaimed bodies are still the primary source of cadavers despite guidelines issued by the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists which discourage the use of unclaimed bodies. This study aims to conduct a review of the existing national and international laws safeguarding the several rights of a deceased person. The study also reviews the existing anatomy acts (and related acts) across various countries that facilitate cadaver supply for anatomy education and research. According to PRISMA guidelines an online search was publications in four medical databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences, and Google Scholar) was conducted from 1950 till 2022. A research review protocol was registered in PROSPERO prospectively. Using the Mesh terms like cadaver, anatomy education, dead person and rights, body donation program, unclaimed bodies, and anatomy acts. After the application of the eligibility criteria, 149 publications were shortlisted. After review of all the shortlisted articles, laws, and guidelines, using the data extraction checklist prepared by both authors, five (5) international laws; three (3) supreme court case decisions; two (2) high court case decisions; four (4) Indian penal Code Sections and 22 anatomy acts were selected. The review findings will emphasize the distinctions between India’s anatomy acts and those of other developed nations, thereby broadening our perspective as we propose a model anatomy act for uniform implementation across the country with the goal of streamlining the procurement of cadavers.