This seems like something that goes without saying, but the Medical Defence Union (MDU) in the U.K. has issued guidelines for medics about the use and disposal of real human bones.
The MDU writes, “For example, advertising a genuine human skeleton online for use as a Halloween prop could draw criticism.” Medico-legal adviser for the MDU, Dr. Ellie Mein adds, “Medical students now use plastic replicas of skeletons in their studies, but up until 30 or 40 years ago it was common for those studying medicine to use a real human skeleton. At the MDU we sometimes hear from doctors and their relatives who literally find a skeleton in the closet and wonder how to dispose of it sensitively. There are strict rules about the disposal of human remains, meaning skeletons can’t just be sold on like any other unwanted item.”
The organization stresses that the body parts should be disposed of sensitively, which can include by incineration, burial, or even being donated to a medical school for teaching purposes.
