Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 17, Issue 5 , Pages 229-231, July 2010

The laundry foetus; disposal of human remains, the Anatomy Act 1984 and the Human Tissue Act 2004

1, York Road, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6DR, United Kingdom

Received 22 July 2009; accepted 13 February 2010.

Abstract 

Careless attention to the disposal of human remains resulted in this case of the foetus in the laundry; an error of omission. Deliberate illegal abstraction of human remains such as was practiced by Professor van Velzen; an error of commission. These and other matters including the public dissection by Professor Gunther von Hagens are discussed with the relevant UK laws and regulations. The intriguing question raised in the BMJ from a recent amputee: "Can I cremate my own leg?" is mentioned. The answer was no.

Keywords: The foetus in the laundry, Careless disposal of human remains, Error of omission, illegal abstraction by Professor van Velzen, Error of commission, public dissection by Professor von Hagens, UK laws and regulations. “Can I cremate my own amputated leg?” No.

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PII: S1752-928X(10)00029-6

doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2010.02.010

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 17, Issue 5 , Pages 229-231, July 2010

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