Dealing with Unclaimed Corpses at the University of North Texas Health Science Center

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the ethical use of unclaimed bodies for medical research, focusing on the practices of the University of North Texas and the implications for families of the deceased.

Unclaimed bodies

Corpses without known relatives who are often used for medical research or training without consent.

Informed consent

A process by which a person gives permission for something to happen or be done, with full knowledge of the risks involved.

Dealing the Dead

A series that investigates the use of unclaimed corpses for medical research.

Ethical use of bodies

The moral principles guiding how human bodies should be treated in research and education, emphasizing respect and consent.

Willed Body Program

A program that accepts donations of bodies for medical training, which is crucial to medical education.

Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office

The agency responsible for investigating deaths in Dallas County and determining the status of human remains.

Body donation program suspension

Temporary halt of a program due to ethical violations or public outcry over practices.

Military honors burial

A funeral service with specific rites and honors given to veterans.

Bioethics

The study of the ethical implications of biological research and applications, especially in medicine.

Cadaveric specimens

Specimens derived from deceased individuals used for medical education and research purposes.

Tarrant County agreement

Contractual relationship regarding the handling of unclaimed bodies between the University and local counties.

Scientific advancement

Progress and development in scientific knowledge and application, often involving ethical considerations.

Osceola's grave marker

A symbolic headstone placed at burial sites to honor the deceased's memory.

National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

A federal database designed to assist in matching missing persons with unidentified bodies.

Federal burial benefits

Entitlements for veterans regarding the burial of their remains, ensuring dignified treatment.

Mental health services

Healthcare services aimed at treating mental disorders to support individuals' well-being.

Survivor notification

The process of informing family members about the death of a relative.

Ownership of remains

Legal and ethical considerations surrounding who has the right to make decisions about deceased individual's remains.