Bodyworlds exhibit

Have any of you heard of / been to the BodyWorlds exhibit (was in LA, now in Chicago and Cleveland). If so, what is your take? Check out http://www.bodyworlds.com to see what you think. It basically exhibits human bodies that have had the skin removed (do not know the technical term for this), and certain organs are visible to illustrate what that organ looks like, and also what a diseased organ would look like. The bodies are posed in "action" poses. And the collection includes a pregant woman where you can see the uterus and fetus inside.

All subjects who donated their bodies to this program KNEW what they do / how they do it, but it still really creeps me out. I don't like the action poses - it seems to remove the reverance with which I feel the bodies should be treated. I think the information is valuable and the technology is amazing, but I do not like the "shock" factor of the posing.

Well that was a bit of a shocker before my morning coffee. After the initial shock of seeing real humans I think it's really cool. I would like to see an exhibit like this. I find anatomy and biomechanics fascinating so this would be right up my alley. DH did comment on it, saying the way they preserve the bodies would be great for students to learn anatomy. No smell and preserved as is down to the molecular level. I have to admit, I couldn't stand it when he came home from anatomy class smelling like formaldhyde.
I think if these people knew what they were signing up for then it's not a problem. I think the posing bodies are a large part of the attraction and education.

[Rapunzel]

Hmmm.... Mixed reaction.

On the one hand it's kind of morbid in a way when you think about the fact that these are real bodies.

But, on the other hand it is also absolutely amazing.

I think that all in all I find it more positive than negative because the purpose of the exhibit is to highlight the incredible nature of the body - particularly the human body. I think in that way it does pay deep respect to the people who donated their bodies. Although, I think that I wouldn't want my relatives to go and see me like that (talk about some serious psychological trauma!).

I don't know if it would disturb my children or fascinate them so I don't know if I would take them to see it. My husband found it to be both emotions at once as did I.

Jennifer

[HeartRN]

Way cool IMO....I also like the fact that there is a huge teaching element involved here...adults and kids can see (for example) a healthy lung v. one diseased from smoking. Sometimes the only way to prevent a bad behavior is through direct, in your face visuals. I've often thought middle school/high school kids (and adult smokers!!!!) should see some of our patients in the unit who are riddled with disease from smoking and a general unhealthy lifestyle. Although I recognize this exhibit could frighten kids, I think with parental guidance, there's so much kids (and adults) can learn here.

When I looked at it online, I had a hard time believing some of the bodies were real, probably because I've seen the cadavers DH has worked on in anatomy lab. I think its an awesome learning experience and hopefully a good motivator for living a healthier lifestyle. I don't have a problem with the poses, I think thats an important element in the learning aspect of the exhibit. I would be more creeped out by a line of bodies laid out all exactly the same...and I would lose interest rather quickly.

I think the whole thing is amazing. DH and I were going to go this weekend, but when we saw pictures of the hoards of people waiting in line, we post-poned our trip in hopes of going on a less busy weekday.

I think the poses are what creeps me out and makes me not want to go, but I do agree that it presents an opportunity for a valuable learning experience. I also agree that as long as the people knew what they were signing up for, it's okay. It just turns my stomach (which is why I'm not the one in medicine).

If anyone does actually go, please post back. I'd love to know what you thought after seeing it in person.

[spotty_dog]

If anyone does actually go, please post back. I'd love to know what you thought after seeing it in person.

An aquaintance, Case CS PhD student, wrote this in her blog: "It was amazing and fantastic and really educational. It was a little creepy in places, but for the most part it was well and tastefully done, and I'm glad I went. You really just have to go see it- I am still wandering around saying things like "I didn't know kidneys were so small!" and "so that's what that muscle does!""

[Phoebe]

It didn't freak me out like I thought it would. Interesting poses. I had a human cadaver lab in anatomy class in college so I had seen most of that stuff before. I would rather see pictures of that stuff than be in person.
And the smell!
Jennifer

[SueC]

I would totally go see that if it came here--I think it looks very cool! If it weren't for the teaching element, I guess I'd think it was just twisted and wrong. It really didn't shock me--I've taken gross anatomy and dissected a human body. Once you get past the skin, it is absolutely fascinating!

I can't wait to go see it (I've heard the lines on weekends have been horrendous, so I've been waiting). I'll let you know how I feel about it afterwards.

I saw it last March and I thought it was really cool. I usually get disgusted with body parts really easy (can't watch surgeries on tv), but this was different. The way they set up the body poses IMO was very artistic. By the way with the whole smoking thing...I use to smoke socially but when I saw the black lungs on those people, I can't bring myself to pick up another cigarrette. .

[Rapunzel]

Old thread dug up:

This exhibit is coming to the Boston Museum of Science (where my husband has a permanent exhibit of his own they are in the process of installing).

When he just read that Body Works was coming there he said, "This could be highly unethical IF these bodies were supposed to be donated to scientific research and this man is profiting on them."

Also, he said that the exhibit actually originates from China (with all of the bodies being Chinese) and he worries about the ethics behind the procurement of the bodies.

Anyway, the bottom line is that he feels it is wrong that they are charging money for this exhibit. And, that ethical lines may have been crossed in putting together this exhibit.

FWIW, from the German dude's website linked above:

Recent media reports have wrongfully stated that Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS uses bodies other than donor bodies in its exhibitions. Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS refutes the statements in their entirety, as they are factually incorrect. Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS is the only anatomical exhibit that uses donated bodies, willed by donors for the express purpose of serving BODY WORLDS mission to educate the public about health and anatomy.

Excluding a small number of specimens acquired from anatomical collections and anatomy programs, the plastinated specimens on display in Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS exhibitions stem from a unique Body Donation Program established in Heidelberg, Germany in 1978, later managed by the Institute for Plastination established in 1993.

While other exhibits have revealed that they use unclaimed bodies or bodies that had been abandoned when found, Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS has never needed to seek bodies for the Body Worlds exhibits. Currently, IfP has a donor roster of 6.593 individuals which includes 140 Americans. The already deceased on the ifp's donor roster number 350.

All IfP documents relating to donated bodies have been scrutinized and approved by two ethics committees formed by the California Science Center in Los Angeles and the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, where BODY WORLDS exhibitions took place in 2005.

Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS declares categorically that it has never used unclaimed or found bodies, or bodies of executed Chinese prisoners, in its anatomical exhibitions of real human bodies. After, Der Spiegel, a German publication reported the use of executed Chinese bodies in the BODY WORLDS exhibition, an interim injunction was taken against Der Spiegel. In accordance with Germany’s laws, Der Spiegel is now restricted from claiming, among other things, either literally or by implication, that “Gunther von Hagens is exhibiting the corpses of executed Chinese in the BODY WORLDS exhibition.” According to the court, if the interim injunction is violated, Der Spiegel, must pay Dr. von Hagens a fine of 250,000 Euros. “I have never plastinated the bodies of executed persons, for, based on my ethical convictions, I disapprove of using such bodies for anatomical purposes,” Dr. von Hagens says.

[Meenah]

I'm going in two weeks (in Philadelphia now).
Luanne

[Rapunzel]

That's very interesting, Tracy.... The source my husband was using wasn't der Spiegel, though. It was Chinese, I believe. I'll have to ask him. And, going to the link in the op, I can't find the statement you quoted. Can you direct me to it?

I'll go to the German guy's site and see if he provides links of information on this ethics panel (who it consisted of, their official conclusions, etc.). While the donors' identities should all remain off the public records the records should still exist and definitively state the nationality and status of each corpse. I'll check and have my husband do so as well.