Human Cadavers on Display at Carnegie Science Center
Exhibit of Bodies from China Provokes Controversy
Even though the exhibit will not be installed for months, it is already generating a great deal of controversy. The Post-Gazette reports that 11-year employee Elaine Catz resigned over the coming exhibit, saying that " 'We don't know how these people died or why they died, and I don't think Premier knows, either,' she said, referring to the company, Premier Exhibitions of Atlanta, that is presenting the show. 'Before we put our stamp of approval on it, there should be a high burden of proof on Premier.' ''
Premier claims that the corpses were "unidentified or unclaimed," and insists that all proper legal procedure was followed before taking the corpses to be used for the exhibit. Premier's president, Arnie Geller, notes that "China's treatment of unclaimed bodies is similar to that of the United States." According to the article, the bodies are "taken to the morgue, and if after several months of advertising nobody claims them, they're offered to medical schools for educational purposes. The death certificates, autopsy reports if any, and any other documentation are kept by Chinese authorities, who, he said, consider them confidential."
Despite the reassurances of Premier, many remain skeptical. The Post-Gazette cites the opinion of Harry Wu, one of the world's most famous Chinese dissidents, who remarked, "Life over there is very cheap. It's easy to get the cadaver of prisoners or people who die in hospital and use [them] for merchandise. Whatever document they issue is not reliable. . .Government cannot approve what is immoral and wrong. If doctors need a body for research it's necessary to save peoples lives, not for commercial exhibit."
The controversy generated by the exhibit has not adversely effected ticket sales elsewhere; in fact, the bodies always draw a large crowd. Bringing in the "Bodies" exhibit is one of the Carnegie Science Center's plans to bolster faltering ticket sales, according to a memo revealed by the Post-Gazette's reporting. In the face of criticism, the Carnegie Science center defends its decision. One of the advisory committee members, Karen Feinstein, stated that "The display is extraordinary. The attempt to deal with behavioral issues, showing the effect of smoking on your lungs, the human body at work, it was so impressive and provocative in a good way. There's nothing gory about it. The hall was filled to the brim with visitors, but everyone was quiet and respectful. You could have heard a pin drop. We were unanimous that we would not want Pittsburgh to miss this."
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Published by Michael Lutz
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12 Comments
Post a CommentI seen the exhibit at the Arizon Science Center when I lived in AZ. I thought it was very interesting. If they were here in CO, I'd go again, and take more pictures. I think the human body is amazing, but it is a little weird. I liked this article...:o)
Just when I thought there couldn't possibly be anything sicker in this world that we haven't already exploited. What a complete abomination of the human body and disrespect to those lost souls. They should be buried with dignity and not put on display for others morbid curiosity. What a sick world we live in.
everything at the Science Center is interesting. nice article :)
I worry that the body on display was a person who knew of his destiny screamed in horror as the money from the "buyer "changed hands to purchase the "body"of the poor man who will loose his life for a few dollars.A prisoner,an innocent man ,someone kidnapped who fits the description of a particular "specimen"wanted by a "buyer".I will not go see these bodies and give my money thereby contributing to the death of possibly some innocent person.Maby some of this is on the level but there are doubts and I am sure some bodies arrived through a horrible proccess.
Would love to see this exhibit, don't know if it's been or is coming to Bangkok though? Nice article.
This sounds like a great experience. I love the Science Center and I have not had the chance to visit in years, but I plan on visiting as soon as possible. This is a once in a lifetime educational opportunity. I don't see any moral issues either. It just seems like some people have a hard time facing mortality. That's life. I wouldn't mind being on display when I die. I somehow don't think It would be a concern of mine. leave it to certain religious organizations to both fear and be ashamed of the human body.
It's interesting, and although it's for science, I personally wouldn't want to see it. I wouldn't ask that it be taken down though just because I don't want to see it. If I knew it were there, I simply wouldn't look at that particular exhibit! Great article!
I remember seeing a body that had been sliced into many sections way back in 1960 on a class trip to the Chicago Institute of Science. If done from an educational standpoint and in the proper venue of a well respected science center, I don't see what the big deal that people would be offended or upset about it. Here in the USA when you donate your body to science you never know where it might end up.
We saw the exhibit in Los Angeles and to see the way the body works was amazing. Later someone actually stole one of the fetuses! I don't think anybody was ever caught.
The Body Worlds display was recently in the Dallas area. I didn't have an opportunity to go see it, but I don't think I would object, if it were done in an educational manner and the bodies were displayed respectfully. There will always be issues around who's making money with things like this, but that's a fact of life. Public venues have to sponsor shows that either make money or bring in funding in some other way, or they can't provide shows.