The Rochester Museum and Science Center is currently featuring an exhibit of plasticized human bodies called “Our Bodies: The Universe Within”. The bodies in the exhibit originated in China, one of the most flagrant abusers of human rights in the world.
For example, it has been reported that China’s military is implicated in the harvesting of human organs from live prisoners(Click here for a full report). China’s record on abortion is dismal at best. And don’t forget China’s utilization of child slave labor in its manufacturing sector.
Well known Chinese human rights advocate, Harry Wu, had this to say about cadaver exhibits: “Life over there is very cheap,” Mr. Wu said. “It’s easy to get the cadaver of prisoners or people who die in hospital and use [them] for merchandise. Whatever document they issue is not reliable. “People say, ‘Oh, the government approved.’ What are they talking about? Government cannot approve what is immoral and wrong. If doctors need a body for research it’s necessary to save peoples lives, not for commercial exhibit.”
Of course, the Rochester Museum and Science Center assures us that their exhibit is perfectly ethical. This is what they have to say about the origin of these bodies:
“Q. Will we recognize or know any of the specimens in Our Body: The Universe Within and where do these specimens come from?
A. All of the anatomical specimens contained in Our Body: The Universe Within originate from China and have been provided for the exhibit consistent with the laws of China. The anatomical specimens are not owned by the exhibitors, but are provided by a Chinese foundation to promote educational and medical research of the human body. While we do not have the specific identity of each anatomical specimen, they have been donated through medical schools and other research facilities in China to promote education, science and medical research of the human body.”
How reassuring is it to know that these bodies were obtained under circumstances that were “consistent with the laws of China”? I suppose that if China keeps poisoning us with lead then that statement may someday be credible. In the meantime, China’s record of forced abortion, organ harvesting, and slave labor should be enough to cause us to be very skeptical of any claims of ethical procurement of these “anatomical specimens”. Be sure to say a prayer for the souls of these “specimens”. It is the least we can do.