IFAA recommendations for the ethical use of anatomical images

The increasing utilization of digital technologies has required anatomists to address new ethical challenges in recent years (Cornwall Jones, 2018; Alves-Cardoso Cornwall Jones, 2016). In 2012 the IFAA published guidelines to support good practice around the use of human bodies and tissues for anatomical purposes. Continued development of technologies since the original guidelines, with the now ubiquitous use of the internet and digital technologies, means there are now additional considerations that require “best practice” guidance for the anatomy community. One of these considerations is image acquisition and use, a topic that was originally referred to in a limited capacity as “Item 6” in the 2012 guidelines. This topic is expanded to provide guidelines that are more congruent with the contemporary education and research environment. The term “images” refers specifically to photographs, videos, and images of actual human tissues as well as those generated by modalities such as ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Images that arise from human tissues are not physical specimens, but their representations. Nevertheless, they are derived from actual persons and therefore deserve special consideration in regard to their acquisition, storage, and use. The use and distribution of images in ways that are not considered ethical can undermine the relationship with local communities, and this necessitates reflection on how these resources are managed. This set of guidelines supplements the IFAA “Recommendations of Good Practice for the Donation and Study of Human Bodies and Tissues for Anatomical Examination” (2012). Developed by: The Federative International Committee for Ethics in the Medical Humanities (FICEM) for the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA), April/July 2023. FICEM committee members: Eiman Abdel Meguid, Brendon Billings, Thomas H. Champney, Jon Cornwall, Sabine Hildebrandt, Ahmadi Ihunwo, D. Gareth Jones, Diogo Pais, Andrea Oxley da Rocha, Brandi Schmitt, Guo-Fang Tseng, Andreas Winkelmann (Chair). The recommendations highlight the importance of developing adequate standards of consent that are reflective of trends in technology and standards associated with contemporary bioethics and were primarily developed as a framework representing “best practice” for those utilizing bodies donated to science. It is hoped they are used by both the anatomical sciences and other professions in guiding ethical practice around image acquisition and use, prioritizing the recognition of the dignity of and respect toward deceased donors, living patients, and others. It is acknowledged that many institutions may not be able to adhere to all the presented recommendations; however, it is hoped they are utilized wherever possible to guide good ethical practice. It is also recognized that the recommendations are not immutable, but can and will change as ethical practices evolve. All users of anatomical images are encouraged to use these guidelines in the spirit in which they were developed—as a means to protect the privacy and respect the dignity of those who altruistically allowed their images to be captured and used.