ABSTRACT
Objective To provide references by analyzing the history, hotspot, and trend of the research in body donation. Methods CiteSpace software was used to conduct a co-occurrence network analysis. Totally 196 articles in CNKI database and 114 articles in Web of Science Core Collection Database were included. Results The number of articles in China increased in recent years. "Political and legal organizations" and "medical schools and departments" were main research institutions. "Death", "donation attitude", "ethics", and "humanity educations" were new emerging research directions in recent years. National studies of body donation were mainly conducted by USA and New Zealand, while most institutions were universities. High frequency keywords were "dissection", "cadaver", "anatomy" Conclusion Research in body donation in China shows a trend of increasing depth and diversity, while most research still lacks innovation and cooperation compared to national studies, especially studies in legislation and human ethics of body donation.
ABSTRACT
The study of anatomy is inseparable from cadaveric dissection. However scarcity of cadavers is felt all over the world. Body donation is the preferred and major source of cadavers worldwide. It is defined as an informed and free act of giving one’s whole body after death for medical education and research. This article gives a brief review of history of body donation. It reveals the details about who can donate and who can accept the body along with procedure followed to donate body in India. It discusses the donors’ attitude behind body donation and factors preventing people from body donation. It deals with approach of various religions towards body donation. It discusses some important ways to overcome the scarcity of bodies in India and the world.