The Ethics of Virtual Bodies
The acquisition of dead bodies for
biomedical research and education has long been an
important and controversial topic. The development of biomedicine as we know it would not have been possible without the study of dead human and animal remains. Yet, many individuals and groups have strong ethical, moral, or religious objections to the use of human or animal bodies.
The development of virtual bodies for
biomedical research and education presents a new set of possibilities and problems. The infinite reusability of virtual bodies avoids issued related to the scarcity and ethical sourcing of physical bodies. At the same time, they represent a new form of virtual embodiment that may challenge our notions about bodies and life and may lead us to realize science fiction visions of simulation which is indiscernible from reality.
In this paper, I will discuss my empirical research on frog dissection
simulations and human anatomy simulations used in biological and medical education. My research on frog dissection simulations identifies a symbiotic relationship between dissection simulation designers and animal rights activists. For human anatomy simulations, the most promising feature is the potential for resolving cultural differences in medical education related to cultural beliefs about spirituality and death.