Legacy Anatomical Collections 

American Association for Anatomy Recommendations for the Management of Legacy
Anatomical Collections.  

Collections of human remains in scientific and private institutions have a long tradition, and expectations about the ethical treatment of these tissues have changed over time. Historically these remains were often collected with no consent and with little knowledge about the individual or their respective culture and practices surrounding death and postmortem treatment. In recent years, there has been an increased awareness of the disproportionate representation of marginalized populations in these collections.

In Fall 2021, the American Association for Anatomy convened a Legacy Anatomical Collections Task Force to develop a framework for the ethical treatment of these important collections. 
Composed of bioethics experts and professionals who work with skeletal remains, the taskforce developed a framework to guide those working with these tissues in education, research, and museum collections.  In Spring 2022, AAA adopted an initial policy statement defining expectations for inventory, use, storage, and potential disposition of legacy collections. The LAC Task Force was then asked to provide more detailed guidance to assist custodians of these collections to make ethical and well-informed decisions regarding the tissues in their care. AAA members were invited to provide input, and the LAC Task Force incorporated feedback from dozens of respondents.

The resulting document, “American Association for Anatomy Recommendations for the Management of Legacy Anatomical Collections,” presented here and published in The Anatomical Record, provides specific recommendations for each aspect of inventory, use, and potential disposition. The paper provides both an ethical foundation and practical considerations and delivers guidance for establishing appropriate management and oversight, investigating provenance, and engaging with communities of care. 

Although “Recommendations for the Management of Legacy Anatomical Collections” represents current best practices to guide researchers, teachers, and museum associates as they consider the future of legacy anatomical collections in their care, it should be considered a living document with guidance that will evolve over time – in line with the advancement of ethical principles concerning human tissue and with the benefit of an even broader set of voices and perspectives.

To that end, we invite your comments and reactions to this document and would be grateful for additional perspectives to ensure that the Recommendations are as current and inclusive as possible.