Story perspectives

Auction House Cancels Human Bones Sale After BBC Probe

6/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

Great Western Auctions cancelled the planned sale of a human-bones lot after the BBC raised ethical concerns.
Experts said many bones likely came from India or China without consent, deeming the collection unethical.
The lot, valued at £500-£800, was marked as a University of Glasgow anatomy class item intended for university study.
Professor Gordon Findlater warned that profiting from donated bodies would breach Scotland’s anatomical examination code of practice.

1 of 1

Story summary

Great Western Auctions cancelled the planned sale of a human-bones lot after the BBC raised ethical concerns.
Experts said many bones likely came from India or China without consent, deeming the collection unethical.
The lot, valued at £500-£800, was marked as a University of Glasgow anatomy class item intended for university study.
Professor Gordon Findlater warned that profiting from donated bodies would breach Scotland’s anatomical examination code of practice.