Anatomy Act 1832 (UK)

The Anatomy Act of 1832 in the UK was legislation designed to regulate the donation and use of bodies for medical study and dissection. It was enacted to address a shortage of cadavers for medical education, which had led to illegal body snatching and grave robbing. The Act permitted authorized institutions to access unclaimed bodies, such as those of paupers or individuals who died in workhouses, for anatomical research and teaching. This legal framework aimed to provide a more ethical and controlled process for acquiring bodies, reducing criminal activities while supporting medical advancements.