Germany: The German anatomist behind the "Body Worlds" exhibition of dead human bodies, Dr Gunter von Hagens, has admitted he bought the bodies of executed Chinese prisoners, reports Derek Scally.
Der Spiegel magazine yesterday alleged that Dr von Hagens's company had sometimes paid up to €220 each for bodies. Dr von Hagens said he was "shocked" when he heard it had happened in 2001 and said he had fired the employees responsible. However he denied allegations it was a widespread company practice. "All anatomical specimen on display in the Body Worlds exhibition . . . belonged to persons who declared during their lifetime that their bodies should be made available after their deaths for the qualification of physicians and the instruction of laypersons," he said.