Human bones have traditionally been respected as the remains of deceased humans, only held by museums and scientific institutions. With the rapid progress in the technology of 3-D printing, it is becoming widely possible to print bones. The bones can allow better insight into medical knowledge, studying human evolution, and crime scene reconstruction. The law has not fully caught up with technology, and the laws governing the possession and ownership of 3-D replicas of human remains are still unclear and undefined.
Key Takeaways:
- There have been very strict global laws about the possession of human remains. Only museums and other scientific institutions were usually allowed to own them.
- With widespread accessibility to 3-D printing, people are increasingly gaining the ability to create bone models.
- Questions remain on the ownership of the 3-D replicated bones. Are they ethical, and should laws govern them?
“The scans will go in a single repository, and it is hoped that research arising from the new database will have immediate social applications.”
Read more: https://undark.org/2020/01/10/3d-bone-prints-south-africa/
