Body Donation

The specimens in the BODY WORLDS exhibition come from the Institute for Plastination’s body-donor program. The body donation program was established by Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1983, shortly after his invention of plastination. The program is now managed by Dr. von Hagens’ Institute for Plastination in Heidelberg, Germany. All donors are adults who gave their consent, during their lifetimes, to use their bodies for plastination and specifically for the BODY WORLDS exhibitions. Independent ethicists have reviewed the Institute for Plastination’s donor program and protocols and verified that the specimens were properly donated for the purpose of public exhibition. Currently, the Institute for Plastination has a donor roster of more than 9,200 individuals; 590 are already deceased.

When considering hosting the BODY WORLDS exhibit, The Leonardo established a Community Advisory Panel composed of local medical and educational experts. They reviewed documentation for the body donation program and helped us address community sensitivities concerning the exhibits. The committee determined that the exhibits have considerable educational value and that they are highly appropriate for this community.

Donor information cards will be available at the end of the exhibit. You may also find more information about body donation at the BODY WORLDS website.