Now, I can understand that murder, unauthorized surgery, etc. etc. are illegal, and cannibalism might be functionally illegal because there is no legit way of getting human flesh, but I always wondered if it is banned specifically anywhere in the western world(specifically, California).
Now I’m not particulary keen on trying any human chops any time soon, but it seems like a law like that would be hard to write and very hard to enforce. So what are some of the laws that restrict cannibalism. Would an enterprising cannibal be able to secure a fresh cadaver legally and feast? Would a research psychologist be able to feed cadaver flesh to volunteers in an experiment?
Regards,
Well, a corpse is a physical object, and as such it has to belong to somebody. I suppose it would be part of the estate, but I am not a lawyer so I don’t know. I would imagine that a crime would be desecrating somebody elses corpse, but if you come into the possession of the corpse in a legit manner, then maybe you could at least eat it.
It seems in the US there is no specific law against cannibalism but circumstances surrounding cannibalism may well see you to jail.
The only exception that might see you by the law for cannibalism is survival cannibalism. Instances such as that protrayed in the movie Alive about the plane crash in the Andes where some crash survivors resorted to eating those already dead. IIRC “necessity” is a viable defense in court cases and such a defense could be claimed in situations as that in Alive.
A corpse is not part of an estate but belongs to the next of kin. When my father died, his heir was not allowed to sign the cremation authorization so I had to sign it.
Now obviously, this is Delaware, and doesn’t apply everywhere. But I think you could argue that eating a corpse “would outrage ordinary family sensibilities.” YMMV.
It seems to me that siimilar statutes are probably on the books in most places, and a (legitimate) legal search would turn them up.
I’m sure a lot of things done to cadavers would be considered… umm… improper, but that doesn’t stop medical science. Could there be a federal level permit law that allows certain individuals to do whatever they want?
I dunno… that seems awfully vague, like obscenity laws. Why don’t they just come out and say, “No-one shall desecrate* a corpse, have sex with a corpse, or eat a corpse”? Except as allowed for survival situations or medical science, of course.
[sub]*And they have to define ‘desecrate’ of course. Isn’t that ultimately a religious (or maybe anti-religious) act?[/sub]
because no matter how many precise situationsyou leglislate for, someone can always think of a new one. Put the corpse on the roof for everyone to see - let the animals eat it etc
Does the person have to be dead for it to be considered cannibalism? What if someone self-amputates a finger or an arm, and someone else eats it? Is that cannibalism, and is it illegal anywhere? For that matter, what if it’s the same person doing the eating - i.e. self-cannibalism?
There is at least one circumstance in which the consumption of human tissue is acceptable; placenta - it’s not unheard of for the mother to take it home with her for consumption (supposedly for health benefits such as reclamation of lost nutrients - it’s supposed to stave off post-natal depression). A friend of mine (who, incidentally, is a vegetarian) did this, but could not bring herself to eat it.
What if a person, say, cuts off his lower leg with a saw, and then gives it to you to eat. Are you allowed to eat it? In this case, you didn’t do the cutting, and there’s no corpse to desecrate.
Oh, and supposing it is legal to eat the leg while he is alive, if he dies a few minutes later from massive blood loss would it still be legal to eat the leg?
