Medical student's photo of dead body

[kalt]

Respect for the dead.

National Geographic has something on tne Net called The Daily Dozen. Photographers of all skill levels can submit their photos to the site, and the best are picked to be included in the Dozen.

In the February - week 1 lot, there’s a photo that someone (maybe a medical student) took of a dead person’s hand. The person, or maybe her family, donated her body to help medical students or for other research. I can’t believe that this person or her family intended her body to be used by students as photography models, or that a student would take pictures for art’s sake and then post them on National Geographic’s site.

And shame on NG for accepting the photo!

ngm.nationalgeographic.com/your-shot/daily-dozen

There are no direct links to photos, unfortunately. Click on the right arrows next to the strip of pictures. There are two "hand’ pictures in the lot, and the cadaver hand is the 2nd in the lot. It’s dated February 2nd, I believe. The caption indentifies the hand as belonging to a cadaver and explains how an why he took the picture.

If this photo was taken by a med. student, he has a lot to learn about compassion and respect.

If that were my family member, I would do everything I could to have that student take a semester break to think about what he or she did.

She–Or is it he? The photographer was smart enough not to include his name–apparently thinks that the photograph is a visual ode to life and death. It would be nice if he had consent to do it.

If any family member thought that photos would be taken and published, I’m sure that they thought the photos would be used for legitimate educational purposes–education related to medicine or science, not visual arts!

It’s possible that the photographer had consent, but it’s not likely.

 

[vera_dicere]

Generally when someone gives their body to science they don’t tend to care any which way how it is used if it is used for medical and research purposes. Since you can’t really ID the person from their hand I dont’ honestly see a reason to get fussy over it.

THe disection of a body for medical study, by medical students is far more undignificed IMHO then photographing a dead hand.

As for the purpose of it being for art… well, in a way it is art, but I can see why you’re annoyed at it. But the reality is, once you sign that form to donate your body, that’s it, you really dont’ have much say as to what the images are used for.

 

[kalt]

Generally when someone gives their body to science they don’t tend to care any which way how it is used if it is used for medical and research purposes. Since you can’t really ID the person from their hand I dont’ honestly see a reason to get fussy over it.

THe disection of a body for medical study, by medical students is far more undignificed IMHO then photographing a dead hand.

As for the purpose of it being for art… well, in a way it is art, but I can see why you’re annoyed at it. But the reality is, once you sign that form to donate your body, that’s it, you really dont’ have much say as to what the images are used for.

I think there must be rules about how a donated body can and can’t be used.

There might be no specific rule about using the body to make photos that have nothing to do with medical education or research, but it certainly is tasteless and lacks sensitivity.

People don’t donate their bodies because they don’t care what happens to the body. If they didn’t care what happened to it, they would stick it in the ground unceremoniously and never think about it again.

I think that most people who donate their bodies, or the bodies of family members, do it because they believe that students or researches can learn something from it that will help others.

They’re donating their bodies because they care about other people.

What a shame that this person’s body was used so some photogrpahy buff can get a thrill at seeing her work on NG.

NG, btw, is known for its photography. Having your photo published there, even in The Daily Dozen, is a big deal.

IMO, this student used the body unfairly. He mentions how unselfish the donation is, yet he selfishly uses it to practice his photography and get the attaboy from NG.

 

[kalt]

I found this on the Net.

www.ama-assn.org/ama/upload/mm/hod_dbot5_doc.doc