The Museum of London's exhibit Doctors Dissection and Resurrection Men brought to light not only the historical and scientific, but wove in the political through the section on the Anatomy Act of 1832.
In 1832, Parliament passed the Anatomy Act, which regulated what cadavers could be used for scientific research and teaching. Parliament needed to pass such legislation because "body-snatchers" were raiding cemeteries for cadavers. The Science Museum of London's page on the legislation states, "Anatomists were given access to 'unclaimed bodies', those who had died without any family coming forward to claim them for burial"(Science Museum). This qualifier caused more people in poverty to become cadavers rather than members of wealthier families. Though the legislation was difficult to put into practice and not popular, but it did succeed at ending the careers of resurrection men. ("Use of the dead to the living") The Anatomy Act of 1832 was in effect until the 2004 Human Tissue Act, which reformed and clarified the principle of consent ("Human Tissue Act").
This is an example of politics and science working together, but it was not without a fight. (The exhibit had recorded a re-enactment of the debate). Government has to find the delicate balance between supporting and limiting scientific research and study. The government needs to help fund research but also police the ethical boundaries.
It is difficult to think about people stealing cadavers from graves for medical study, but without proper channels for accessing bodies there was no alternative to grave robbing.
Bibliography
"An Act for regulating Schools of Anatomy, print, England, 1832." Science Museum. http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/objects/display.aspx?id=6870"Use of dead to the living..." Museum of London http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/Corporate/Press-media/Press-releases/Doctors+Dissection+and+Resurrection+Men.htm
"What is the Human Tissue Act and what does it mean?" University College London. http://www.ucl.ac.uk/slms/research/human-tissue-act/ht-act
Scary thought isn't it? Especially if you consider that they belived your body had to be intact to ascend into heaven properly. They thought they were being robbed of their whole afterlife!
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