In recent years, the development of research and the increased awareness of our moral
duties beyond the human species have pushed the scientific community to revise widely-accepted
ontological reductionist views that regard non-human animals as mere things.
The new horizons offered by the development of advanced research methods therefore
require an on-going commitment to new perspectives able to find the right balance between
the need for scientific knowledge on one hand and the respect for animal life on
the other. This is in line with increasing attention to animal welfare and expansion of the
\u201c3Rs model\u201d: replacement, reduction, refinement.
With the view of promoting the adoption of alternative methods, human body donation
for research can contribute not only to the acquisition of important information for human
health and for doctors\u2019 training, but also can reduce significantly the number of
animals sacrificed.
By investigating the scientific and ethical reasons that may encourage cadaver donation,
the authors aim to promote the adoption of the practice in Italy following other European
experiences