For five and a half years, I worked at a major university as assistant to the director of the plastination program. At that time, Dr. von Hagens still held the patent to his plastination method. While I agree that plastination is an amazing method of preserving anatomical material for educational purposes, I think von Hagens crossed a line in the exhibit of preserved adult cadavers. In my opinion, his "artistic" positioning of the bodies is disrespectful of human remains. I'm happy to see that this exhibit of embryos and fetuses is more respectful and successfully conveys the beauty of life - right from the start.
I disagree that having them displayed like this exhibit is disrespectful (yes, I have seen it personally on a few occasions). How can we ever learn if we cannot see and understand? For generations our human medical textbooks were based on dogs and other animals because it was considered disrespectful and wrong to preform an autopsy, but look how much we learned when gave that up? I think as long as permission is given by the parents (and in the case of body world, the person) that this is an amazing educational tool that helps give people the perspective and reverence the topic deserves.
I live in Portland and saw this exhibit on a class trip in high school. It is powerful. I wish more people could see it because it shows the humanity of the unborn in a unique way. I understand your grief that people still defend abortion when this is so clear. Thank you, great article.
I think as long as permission is given by the parents (and in the case of body world, the person) that this is an amazing educational tool that helps give people the perspective and reverence the topic deserves.