RESUMO
The paucity of human cadavers for study of anatomy by dissection and the dark history related to this led to formulation of Anatomy Acts in most countries of the world. In India too, almost every state has its own anatomy Act with variable differences in the acts per state. The objective of this article was to compare the Maharashtra State Anatomy Act which was the first Anatomy act formulated in India, with anatomy Acts of other states in India and to make suggestions regarding areas within the Acts that may need reformulation. Details of the Anatomy Acts from different states of India and articles related to them were obtained after a comprehensive search of databases such as Pubmed, Scopus, medline etc. The obtained data was studied and compared. The study suggested removal of "therapeutic uses of cadavers" from the jurisdiction of anatomy acts, and that all anatomy acts must allow for human body donation. While defining the unclaimed body, most Anatomy Acts failed to specify the time period within which the body may be claimed and also it was necessary to specify the age of person who may claim the body or give consent for body donation. The Anatomy Acts must make provision for transfer of surplus bodies from one Institute to another. The directives for disposal of the bodies once utilized seem difficult to implement in practicality and need to be reformulated to adjust to the need of the modern times. The authors appeal for formulation of a central single Indian anatomy act applicable uniformly throughout India
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