The acquisition of cadavers for research and teaching has traditionally relied on unclaimed corpses, without major formalities. With the complexity of modern times, the mere transfer of these corpses to medical schools has come to be feared on grounds that it may break some law. This has reduced the number of cadavers available for anatomy classes. The Department of Anatomy at the Federal University in Pernambuco, Brazil, together with other institutions from the State, responded by studying legal mechanisms to overcome the lack of cadavers for research and teaching. The methodology consisted of discussion meetings and presentation of protocols for receiving cadavers, based mainly on the prevailing Brazilian legislation. The results were: (a) publication of Provision 28/2008 by the Pernambuco State Court, ruling on death certificates for cadavers scheduled for transfer to schools of medicine for research and teaching and (b) the creation of protocols for the use of cadavers in the State of Pernambuco. We conclude that knowledge of the attributions of the various institutions involved in the process will facilitate the use of cadavers in research and teaching activities.
Cadaver; Legislation; Anatomy
