Compare the provisions of the Mumbai Anatomy Act with similar legislation in other Indian states or countries to understand its unique characteristics and impact.

Sibani Kumar Sharma, Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, RSMIMSRC, India The Mumbai Anatomy Act of 1949, a foundational piece of legislation for anatomical studies in India, has significantly influenced similar laws across the country. This analysis provides a comparative study of the Act’s provisions with similar legislation in other Indian states and leading international models from the United Kingdom and the United States. The research methodology involved a clause-by-clause comparison of these legal frameworks to assess their primary principles, mechanisms for cadaver procurement, and administrative oversight. The key finding is that the Mumbai Anatomy Act operates on the premise of the administrative disposal of "unclaimed bodies". This passive, supply-driven model stands in stark contrast to modern international frameworks like the UK's Human Tissue Act and the US's Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, which are based on a "consent-first" principle and treat body donation as an "anatomical gift". The UK model is further distinguished by its centralized regulatory authority, while the US model provides a crucial "good faith" clause to protect institutions from liability. The impact of the Mumbai Act’s reliance on unclaimed bodies is a documented cadaver shortage for medical education , highlighting that its outdated legal premise is ill-equipped to meet contemporary demands for a sustainable and ethical donation culture.