Extracted from Today (13th April 2005):
Crash test dummies are now real dead people
"An Austrian ethics commission has ruled it acceptable to use human bodies as crash test dummies, provided the families of the dead approve."
This reminded me of an incident which occur in a lab I do my research in during my undergraduate days:
Three human skulls were being used to conduct some destructive tests to study of the strength of cheek bones (perhaps to facilitate its reconstruction at a later date). These skulls, each wrapped with green surgical cloth, were brought into the lab in a paper box. According to one of the researchers, the skulls are retrieved from those who are involved in accidents, died in the hospital, but are not claimed by anyone after a period of time.
While certain experimental tests on various parts of the dead bodies would benefit mankind in general, would the dead himself/herself agree to such tests? Would you agree? Would your family members agree on your behalf?
After that day, I was the only one who would dare to stay into the other adjoining room late into the night to conduct my experiments… the rest are… ;p