Wednesday. April 27.1960 University Daily Kansan
Page 3
Legislation Can Solve Cadaver Problem
(This is the second of three articles dealing with a shortage of cadavers in the department of anatomy and its effects.)
By Dan Felger
A nation-wide study of legislation on the use of cadavers in anatomy classes shows a relationship between new, improved laws and body supply.
House Bill 235, concerning the disposition of certain unclaimed dead human bodies in Kansas, was approved in its final form in the spring of 1951.
The law lists the conditions under which the KU department of anatomy may receive cadavers from state institutions. It also states that a person may will his body to the University. In view of burial benefits and Social Security, more and more of the cadaver supply must come from donations, experts on the issue say.
But here the Kansas law is not much help — while it states that a person may will his body to the University, it implies that upon his death the next-of-kin does not have to honor this part of the deceased's will. California, a state with anatomy departments in five universities, has a law which obligates the next-of-fink to carry out the will of the deceased concerning the use of his body for anatomical study.
Howard A. Matzke, professor of anatomy, says he "does not see how the needs of the University can be filled" with the present Kansas law.
Donations Needed
The anatomy department, quick to point out that its cadaver supply increase must come from donations, favors new legislation. Most of the states that have recently passed laws on the issue have followed California's example.
The anatomy students at KU also are aware of the shortage of cadavers and the possible effects of this shortage.
In conjunction with this study, 50 questionnaires were distributed at random to students in the department. On the questionnaires were the following four questions:
1. Do you as a student feel this shortage of cadavers is harmful to your education?
2. In your opinion, could this situation have far-reaching effects?
3. What would you propose to remedy the situation, if anything?
4. Were you aware that this situation existed in Kansas?
The answers were similar in almost all cases.
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In answer to the first question, 48 of the students said they believed the shortage of cadavers was not critical now, but could become so in the next few years.
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Long Effects Expected
One student answered, "The shortage is not harmful to my own education, but some members of my class had rather poor cadavers to work with. Next year's class may not have enough."
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Greatest diversity was found in the answers to the third question.
Some people believe that animal dissection and plastic models can supply the needs of the student in anatomy. Members of the anatomy department disagree with this notion.
In the case of those who did not think any shortage was harmful, the answer was not given with reference to the future.
"First of all, we have to educate the public as to the prevailing situation. Then we have to seek legislation that will alleviate the shortage of cadavers in the anatomy department."
pose the dissection of human bodies for anatomical training.
He said that until the shortage of cadavers and its implication is made known, people will continue to op-
"I'm sure that if there are adequate cadavers, classes in the future will have access to advanced details and study. If there are inadequate supplies, somebody will be cheated," a student said.
Public Opposes Cadavers
In the case of the people who realize that there is no substitute for a cadaver as a teaching aid, there is often the mistaken assumption that Kansas institutions can supply the total needs of the anatomy department.
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"If we do not receive help in the form of more up-to-date legislation, we could be hurt seriously in the future," Prof. Matzek re-emphasized.
"Our problem concerning the shortage is two-fold," Prof. Matzke said.
To the next question 45 answered that they thought any shortage would definitely have far-reaching effects.
A closer look at the answers to the third question reveals a prevailing attitude of the KU anatomy department staff.
This was true in the past. With the invasion of Social Security, for example, into the issue of unclaimed bodies, it is no longer true.
On the last question, 28 said they knew such a condition existed, while the remaining 22 did not. About half the group of 28 said that they had heard of the shortage of cadavers only after enrolling in anatomy classes.
Tomorrow the subject of new legislation pertaining to the acquisition of bodies for the KU anatomy department will be discussed by a state senator.
Here 39 believed the public should be informed, the law changed or a combination of both.
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