DHonoring one's body after death for scientific, educational and research purposes is permitted by an Italian law approved in January 2020.
However, this law has become unworkable in Campania, particularly in Naples, since the Ministry of Health has not authorized the Federico II University Hospital to accept such donations.
The story involves a Neapolitan woman, GDV, who a year ago, when she was terminally ill, had expressed in the Advance Treatment Declaration (DAT) the desire to donate her body to scientific research at the Federico II university hospital. After her recent death, - as reported by Il Mattino - obstacles emerged in obtaining the necessary authorization to accept the deceased's body in the hospital.
Lawyer Andrea Raguzzino, representing the woman, sought alternative solutions and identified an authorized center in Bologna. However, the morgue of the Policlinico di Napoli initially refused to accept the body, claiming that the necessary authorization was missing.
After several attempts and thanks to the help of Professor Castaldo of the Policlinico Federico II, the morgue finally gave the green light to accept the deceased, pending transfer to Bologna.
Hospitals in Campania do not have the authorization to accept this type of donation
It turns out that the Ministry of Health has indicated the facilities authorized to accept such donations, but Campania is not included in these. The authorized facilities are located in Rome, Milan, Padua, Palermo and Messina, but the only operational center in Italy is in Bologna.
Professor Massimo Niola, a lecturer in Forensic Medicine, expressed his willingness to accept these donations in the future, provided that the Naples Polyclinic obtains the necessary accreditation.
This situation highlighted the need for clarification by the authorities and underlined the importance of allowing medical students to have direct experience with real organs, rather than plastic models, for training and research purposes.
Article published on 8 October 2023 - 08:19
