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Cadaver Donation
Context:
CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury, who passed away on September 12, made a commendable decision by donating his body to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
About Cadaver Donations:
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- Cadaver donation involves donating one’s entire body to science after death.
- Significance:These donations are primarily used to train doctors in human anatomy and surgical techniques, offering a more realistic experience than dummies. Additionally, cadavers are crucial for developing medical devices and studying the effects of diseases on the human body.
- Anyone over 18 can consent to donate their body to science, or their next of kin can do so if they hadn’t registered before death.
- However, bodies with infectious diseases (e.g., HIV, tuberculosis) or those involved in medico-legal cases are generally not accepted. Organ donors may also be ineligible.
Current Situation in India
- India faces a severe shortage of cadaver donations. While AIIMS Delhi received 70 cadavers in two years (sufficient for its batch of 132 students), other institutes like Safdarjung Hospital and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital have received far fewer donations.
- Unclaimed bodies to reduce shortage : Many institutions resort to using unclaimed bodies as allowed under state Anatomy Acts, raising ethical concerns due to the socio-economic backgrounds of these deceased individuals.
Ethical Concerns with Unclaimed Bodies
- In India, many cadavers used in medical colleges come from unclaimed bodies, often belonging to marginalised or destitute individuals.
- In contrast, many developed countries require explicit consent for cadaver donations, sometimes necessitating legal documentation, ensuring ethical practices.
Ethical Dilemmas in Cadaver Donations
- Consent vs. Family Wishes: A registered donor’s family may refuse to honour the donation due to cultural or religious beliefs, creating a conflict between respecting the donor’s autonomy and the family’s wishes.
- Cultural and Religious Conflicts: Promoting cadaver donations in communities with traditions that oppose body donation can lead to ethical dilemmas about respecting beliefs versus addressing the need for donations.Eg PATEL community
- Allocation of Cadavers: Disparities in cadaver donations between rural and urban medical schools raise ethical questions about fair distribution and resource allocation.
- Use Beyond Consent: If a donor’s body is used for commercial research rather than solely for medical training, it raises ethical issues regarding the scope of the donor’s consent.
- Dignity vs. Scientific Advancement: Experimental procedures requiring significant manipulation of cadavers pose ethical dilemmas about prioritising scientific progress over the dignity of the deceased.