PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia’s Mütter Museum is changing the way it handles human remains. There are now clear guidelines for exhibitions, donations and photography. The changes come after the museum faced scrutiny over its collection.
Erin McLeary, senior director for collections and research, said the human remains will stay on exhibit and will be done so in a responsible and respectful way.
“Going forward, the museum will focus on the highest standards of stewardship for the human remains currently in its care,” she said. “This means the [College of Physicians of Philadelphia] will limit further acquisition of human remains, considering only those offered by a living primary donor or by a decedent offering remains via bequest. In every case, however, our priority will be the remains that we currently steward, and we retain the right to decline any proposed donation.”
Returning personhood to the specimen is also part of the plan.
“Our research to date has shown that it is possible to de-anonymize many of the specimens in our collection that originated in Philadelphia, restoring them either to a specific human identity or to a community,” said McLeary.
Sarah Rae, senior director of interpretation and engagement, added that the museum will incorporate the specimens for an expanded interpretive approach to “educate you about medical science.”
“Consider how the biological facts of a body shaped how a person sought health and financial stability, made decisions about treatment, or interfaced with physicians and other health care workers. Each of our human remains throughout our collections was, after all, once a patient just as you are today,” she said.
The College of Physicians of Philadelphia also announced that it will return nearly 400 videos to its YouTube channel, which were suddenly removed in January 2023 by a former museum director.