Abstract
Background Anatomy Act provides legal ambit to medical educationist for the procurement of cadavers. The changing medical education scenario and socio-demographic change has necessitated an urgent review of the concerned legal framework. Suitable amendments addressing the current disparities and deficiencies are long overdue.Methods Anatomy Act in India is a state act and which ensures provision of unclaimed /donated bodies for Medical Education and research. The methodology included three components namely:· Comparison of various Anatomy Acts clause by clause.· Feedback from anatomists.· Formulation of comprehensive model Anatomy Act. Results Various acts studied showed discrepancies in purpose of the act, roles and duties of stake holders, regulation for body donation, procedure to handle unclaimed bodies, disposal of dissected bodies etc. None of the acts defines a donor and neither addresses the issue of transport of anatomical material. Only ten states have a clause for body donation. Acts of only six states have been amended over last 50 years. Three states denied having an act. The whole exercise of review of acts, extensive feedback received from end-users and taking into account global good practices, culminated in drafting of a comprehensive model Anatomy act.Conclusion India, with the largest number of medical colleges is not only at forefront but also a hub of medical education in Southeast Asia region. A legal reform can be a torch bearer to promote ethical and transparent practices for obtaining cadavers for other countries of the region with similar socio-demography and shall also motivate anatomic fraternity across the globe for critical analysis of their respective anatomy acts.
Changing Medical Education Scenario: A wakeup call for reforms in Anatomy Act