Bodyworlds Ethics?
This weekend my wife and I went to see Bodyworlds at the Museum of Science in Boston. For those unaware of the exhibit, is essentially consists of several (close to 200, in fact) actual human specimens that are preserved by a process called plastinisation. These are positioned and cross sectioned in various ways to show the intricacies of the human body.
The exhibit was tastefully done; and all the specimens were persons who bequeathed their bodies be given to science in the public interest. So as far as we know, everything is on the up-and-up.
Still, however, I found myself questioning the ethics of the exhibit from a Christian standpoint. No doubt, the exhibit is amazing, and to see the intricacy and brilliance God's creation is nothing short of astounding. It is a great learning opportunity, and even one that gives one pause to reflect on life and the stewardship of one's body.
What does the Lord think of this exhibit, though? Whether the persons used in the exhibit consented or not, does this undermine the sanctity of human life? In one way, it would seem to uphold the value of the human body. It puts some real force behind the notion that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Even more, it is offered an invitation to reflect upon one's own mortality. Still, there is something intrinsically trivial about real human bodies being an exhibit at an institution which, though ostensibly a place of education and exploration, is also a venue of entertainment. The use of cadavers to educate future doctors seems easily defensible, but to educate (entertain?) lay people? I feel as if the line blurs.
Much more to write here, but I thought I'd kick off a discussion (among both of my regular readers).
The exhibit was tastefully done; and all the specimens were persons who bequeathed their bodies be given to science in the public interest. So as far as we know, everything is on the up-and-up.
Still, however, I found myself questioning the ethics of the exhibit from a Christian standpoint. No doubt, the exhibit is amazing, and to see the intricacy and brilliance God's creation is nothing short of astounding. It is a great learning opportunity, and even one that gives one pause to reflect on life and the stewardship of one's body.
What does the Lord think of this exhibit, though? Whether the persons used in the exhibit consented or not, does this undermine the sanctity of human life? In one way, it would seem to uphold the value of the human body. It puts some real force behind the notion that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Even more, it is offered an invitation to reflect upon one's own mortality. Still, there is something intrinsically trivial about real human bodies being an exhibit at an institution which, though ostensibly a place of education and exploration, is also a venue of entertainment. The use of cadavers to educate future doctors seems easily defensible, but to educate (entertain?) lay people? I feel as if the line blurs.
Much more to write here, but I thought I'd kick off a discussion (among both of my regular readers).
posted by bmarchio at 10:08 AM
2 Comments:
This is a tough one, in my opinion. The learning value is tremendous, or at least has the potential to be.
I'm not sure, though, that there is necessarily a greater intrisic value for the future doctor than there is for the layperson. Clearly from a pragmatic point of view there is, but is that the best way to make ethical judgments?
Then again, I hate the thought that some might look at these cadavers and forget that these were real people, with real families and friends. They were made in the image of God, and I wonder if this exhibit might minimize that. Good questions, I just don't have an answer.
Perhaps there's more value for the future doctor than the lay person because it's less likely that the doctor is interested in entertainment; something fun to do on a rainy Sunday. The future doctor, at least one would hope, has his or her main interests in study.
One thing I didn't mention about the exhibit which, to me, crossed the line, was that some of the specimens had a little placard next to them with creative names (e.g., The Angel, The X Man) and Gunther von Hagen's signature next to it; as if the specimen were a work of art. Indeed, stictly speaking, it is a work of art. The way the bodies were prepared required great creative and technical skill. But ought they be? Signing the work seems somehow to minimize the subject. Put bluntly, it hints at "Hey, look what I did!" Even more, it again suggests the bodies as entertainment or, at least, aesthetic objects.
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