Hunterian Museum Defends Decision to Retain Skeleton of Charles Byrne

In an article in the Museums Association Journal today, the Hunterian Museum is quoted as defending its decision to retain the skeleton of Charles Byrne for further research.

Len Doyal, emeritus professor of medical ethics at London’s Queen Mary University, and Thomas Muinzer, a lawyer at University of Aberdeen said: “We can see no justification for the Hunterian to retain the skeleton for ‘further research’; there is no obvious justification for this since DNA from the skeleton has been obtained and it is entirely unclear what further research the Hunterian has in mind.”

HAD agrees. Moreover, even if there were possibilities for further research this goes completely against the reported wished of the individual concerned – Charles Byrne. There is no consent. We call upon the museum to respect his wishes and provide the burial at sea he wished for and is 240 years over due.