Title: | Why does the UK need a Human Taphonomy Facility? |
Author(s): | Williams A; Rogers CJ; Cassella JP; |
Address: | "School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH, UK. Electronic address: a.williams@hud.ac.uk. School of Biology, Chemistry and Forensic Science, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, WV1 1LY, UK. Electronic address: c.rogers4@wlv.ac.uk. Department of Criminal Justice and Forensics, School of Law, Policing and Forensics, Science Centre, Staffordshire University, Leek Road, Stoke on Trent, ST4 2DF, UK. Electronic address: j.p.cassella@staffs.ac.uk" |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.01.010 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1872-6283 (Electronic) 0379-0738 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Human Taphonomy Facilities (HTFs) are outdoor laboratories where scientific research is carried out on donated human cadavers in order to understand how human decomposition progresses in a variety of conditions. There are currently eight such facilities in the USA, one in Australia and one on mainland Europe. Forensic scientists in the UK have started to ask the question 'Does the UK need a Human Taphonomy Facility?'. A review of the literature produced by the existing HTFs, as well as published opinion and commentaries about these facilities and the feasibility of one in the UK has been undertaken. The existing arguments for and against the establishment of a Human Taphonomy Facility in the UK have been examined. Given recent media interest in the possibility of the establishment of a Human Taphonomy Facility in the UK, and the surrounding controversy, it is important to evaluate the potential benefit or harm of the creation of such a facility to Society and the scientific community" |
Keywords: | "Animals Biomedical Research/*methods Cadaver Directed Tissue Donation/ethics Dogs Expert Testimony Forensic Sciences Humans *Laboratories Models, Animal Odorants *Postmortem Changes Smell United Kingdom Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis Decomposition Fo;" |
Notes: | "MedlineWilliams, A Rogers, C J Cassella, J P eng Review Ireland 2019/02/02 Forensic Sci Int. 2019 Mar; 296:74-79. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.01.010. Epub 2019 Jan 21" |