Dalle disposizioni anticipate di trattamento alla disposizione del proprio corpo post mortem per finalità di formazione e di ricerca scientifica: il legislatore continua il suo cammino di valorizzazione del principio di autodeterminazione della persona

The essay traces the move from Advance Healthcare Directives (Law 219/2017) to the post-mortem disposition of one’s body for education and research (Law 10/2020), as a further affirmation of self-determination within constitutional bounds. Law 10/2020 fills a normative gap, replacing the practice of “unclaimed bodies” and tying any use of the cadaver to the subject’s informed consent. Consent follows DAT formalities, is revocable, and entails appointing a proxy; privacy safeguards are stressed. Dedicated reference centers (universities/IRCCS) are designated, with 12-month return of remains, costs borne by centers, and a ban on profit. Presidential Decree 47/2023 provides implementing rules (exclusions, center selection, traceability). Ethically and legally, the choice is framed as solidarity serving research (Art. 9) and health (Art. 32 Constitution). The scheme differs from organ transplants (presumed consent): here self-determination remains paramount and may include use specifications. Bottom line: sound principles and framework, though the proxy’s role and scope of the declaration could be refined to avoid uneven practices.