Human Remains

Surgeons’ Hall Museum cares for and shares collections that include human remains. These collections support learning about the human body, the history of medicine and science, and the social histories of the people, communities, and practices connected to them.

Human remains in the collection include material such as tissue, organs, skeletal material, microscope slide preparations, and casts or moulds made from the body. These are the physical remains of individuals who were once, or are still, living people.

Encountering human remains can be a powerful and sometimes challenging experience. Visitors are encouraged to consider whether engaging with these displays is right for them and to take time and care when doing so.

The collection, held by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, has included human remains since the eighteenth century. Many human remains in the collection were acquired before modern standards of consent were established. We openly acknowledge this history and recognise that not all individuals gave informed consent. This context is central to how the Museum understands, cares for, and presents these collections today.

All human remains are treated with care, dignity, and respect. Decisions about care, display, research use, digital access, and interpretation are guided by a clear ethical framework. Where human remains carry additional cultural, personal, or ethical sensitivity, enhanced scrutiny and governance apply.

The Museum follows all legal requirements and established professional guidance, and regularly reviews its approach as ethical standards, research, and public expectations evolve.

Requests to photograph or film human remains are considered carefully on a case by case basis. Information about the collections, including human remains, is made available through our Collections Search and is updated as new research emerges.

In some circumstances, it may be appropriate to return human remains. Requests are considered through a clear and transparent procedure guided by respect, dialogue, and proportionate decision making.