Stolen Hearts: Fiction and the 1990s' Pathology Scandal
by Tim Marshall

Year of Publication: 2007
Revised edition: 2009

Using extensive documentary and literary sources, Stolen Hearts is an analysis of the many recent disclosures in the UK concerning human organs taken for pathology research without informed consent. It shows how contemporary fiction and autobiography, often paralleling growing public concern, draw attention to the history of anatomy and questions of medical ethics, and in particular to the importance of consented pathology. Following the organ retention revelations, the UK’s Chief Medical Officer recommended a programme of public education to ensure a general understanding of the purpose and value of pathology research. Tim Marshall argues that fiction in the 1990s and beyond not only offers a critique of current and past medical malpractice, but also contributes to this important educational project. The result is a study with a unique dual focus on contemporary literature and current affairs.