Catholic University of Korea Seoul St Mary’s Hospital
SEOUL, Jun. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – The Catholic University of Korea’s College of Medicine has come under scrutiny for offering paid anatomy lectures utilizing donated cadavers to non-medical professionals such as health trainers and Pilates instructors, sparking controversy.
According to medical community insiders on June 10, a private company providing medical lectures to exercise instructors has been conducting paid anatomy lectures using cadavers at the Catholic University’s Applied Anatomy Research Institute.
A Ph.D. in anatomy from the Catholic University’s medical school leads the practical sessions, allowing students to observe the human body structure firsthand.
The lectures last for nine hours, with a tuition fee of 600,000 won.
The promotional language used by the company for these lectures has fueled controversy.
The company’s website stated, “The cadaver class is conducted exclusively with fresh cadavers,” raising concerns.
While medical schools often face a shortage of cadavers for educational purposes, the use of bodies donated for education and research in profit-driven lectures for non-medical professionals has been called into question.
However, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, no illegal activities have been identified in the reported information about these lectures so far.
An official stated, “While current laws strictly limit who can perform dissections, there are no restrictions on observation.”
The official further explained, “While we are unaware of the exact fees charged by the research institute or the company, they may receive minimal expenses for body preservation and operational staff.”
In a conversation with Yonhap News Agency, Catholic University’s medical school responded, “We are inquiring with the research institute to ascertain the accurate details.”
The anatomy lecture advertisement has since been removed from the company’s website.
The current Corpse Dissection Act states that it aims “to improve public health and contribute to medical education, as well as research in medicine and biomedical sciences, by appropriately investigating the cause of death and conducting pathological and anatomical research, along with the preservation and study of corpses.”
The act specifies that only “physicians with considerable knowledge and experience” or “professors of anatomy, pathology, or forensic medicine at medical schools, or students under their guidance” are allowed to perform dissections.
It also permits dissections for determining the cause of death when ordered, or in cases governed by the Criminal Procedure Act or the Quarantine Act.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
