Question

1. Chapter 4 of Stiff talks about using human cadavers as "crash dummies" to determine adequate safety needs for equipment installed in cars and other moving vehicles. The author states that non-human body "dummies" aren't as effective because they aren't real bodies and cannot show adequately how much impact a human body can take in a crash setting. What do you think about using a human cadaver for such a purpose? Would you be willing to let your own body, or that of a loved one, be used for such a purpose? Why, or why not?

Answer 1

Any experimental work must be first performed on least concerned objects. Without proper background experimentation, any product should not enter the market. Sometimes, a product may pass all the experimental tests and still be a failure at the actual usage level. Hence, it is always advisable to use as many controls as possible for the product.

With reference to the use of dummies in vehicle accident safety concerns, we cannot ask humans to volunteer for the safety check. It would be unethical. However, we must make sure that the vehicle design is near perfect. So, we can use human dummies. We can also use certain animals provided adequate measures are taken.