The paper is about the use of human cadavers for education and entertainment, which is a subject that is extremely polarizing yet morbidly fascinating. Given the popularity of Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS shows—which are still touring the U.S. and Canada—it is surprising that there has been so little scholarly engagement in this issue in North America. This paper opens up several avenues for much-needed discussion, especially as pertains to the meaning of dignity in relation to the disposition of human cadavers and the value of cadavers generally in the process of medical education.

The paper critically assesses the use of a novel technology that preserves human corpses by using polymers, resins, and other chemicals. By means of this plastination process, human tissue can be preserved indefinitely in a very durable, odorless, and realistic form.

“This paper opens up several avenues for much needed discussion, especially on the meaning of dignity in relation to the disposition of human cadavers and the value of cadavers generally in medical education.”

The most novel aspect of this process is that the entire corpse can be posed in whatever position the technician desires before being plastinated. Gunther von Hagens discovered and patented the process of plastination, and he has demonstrated the possibilities it offers to spectacular effect in his BODY WORLDS shows.

There are two parts to the paper. The first examines the utility of plastination for educational purposes. The second examines some ethical concerns regarding the artistic use of whole-body plastinates.

First, according to Gunther von Hagens’ published statements, he is eager to liberate anatomical knowledge from the control of medical experts and share it with the public. While acknowledging the value of plastination in principle, especially for use in anatomy education for medical students, I question the necessity of using actual human cadavers to educate the general public. There are other ways to educate the public, e.g., using plastic models, computer imaging, or living subjects, and the public cannot be expected to appreciate the minutia that anatomists alone would see in the plastinated corpses.

Where suitable alternatives exist and when the educational goal is unclear, I argue that we are not justified in using actual human cadavers on such a scale. They represent an extremely valuable resource (when used in medical education) that also has great social meaning because of the dignity we attribute to the dead.

The second aspect of the paper concerns the artistic and entertainment dimensions of the exhibit. Plastination allows a large number of cadavers to be displayed in lively poses that both entertain and educate the public. Many are engaged in sporting activities (e.g., skiing or figure skating), whereas others are playing chess or opened up like a set of drawers.

Von Hagens disavows his role as artist, but several of these exhibits reveal a fundamental artistic intent. In particular, I argue that signing each of the whole-body (gestalt) plastinates and giving them each a title undermines the personal dignity of the donor.