26/1/04

Von Hagens caught out, wriggling

The news that German state prosecutors are now reviewing the notorious anatomist "artist's" work comes amid information that Von Hagens may have included the corpses of executed prisoners. Certainly a moneyspinner, his exhibit attracted a total of 850,000 visitors during its London presentation a couple of years ago — but Gunther von Hagens may now be running out of time in Frankfurt. Such bodies may be available in China at a discounted price, but they and their relatives are still human beings, live or dead. Von Hagens claimed that they were all 'volunteers'. Somewhere in the murky recesses of 20th century history we have heard this claim before.