Anat Biol Anthropol.  2022 Dec;35(4):121-133. 10.11637/aba.2022.35.4.121.

Issues and Proposal of Research Process in Use of Cadaver According to Changes of Act on Dissection and Preservation of Corpses

• Lee UY

• KMID: 2538347
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11637/aba.2022.35.4.121

Abstract

「Act on Dissection and Preservation of Corpses」 (In short, the Corpse Dissection Act) was amended on April 7, 2020, and began to be enforced on April 8, 2021, resulting in many changes in research procedures using cadavers. The amended law aims to promote biomedicine and health science by lifting the restrictions on cadaver research, expanding the scope of institutions for body donations to general hospitals, and providing materials derived from cadavers such as tissues and specimens to other researchers. In addition, to prevent ethical problems that may arise by lifting these restrictions, the review process of the Institutional Bioethics Board (IRB) for research was mandated. The purpose of the amended law to enhance research using cadavers can be highly praised but considering that there has been confusion in conducting research for a considerable period since the enforcement of the amended law, it can be assumed that the opinions and communication of researchers and working-level officials have been reflected insufficiently. This study was conducted to prepare a countermeasure against the amended Corpse Dissection Act through policy research support from the Korean Society of Physical Anthropologists. I would like to classify the issues that need to be changed and discussed due to the amended Cadaver Dissection Act and introduce the perception and improvement opinions of anatomists based on the issues. Finally, a procedure was proposed to facilitate cadaver research while satisfying the provisions of the amended Cadaver Dissection Act.

Keyword

Research process; Cadaver dissection; Cadaver research; Cadaver donation; Act on dissection and preservation of corpses; Institutional review board