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Aug 19, 2005

TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - A controversial exhibition of skinned human cadavers opened on Thursday at a Florida museum in defiance of a state agency's vote to ban the display.

The exhibition at Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry, known as MOSI, features 20 human bodies and 260 human organs. It had originally been scheduled to open on Saturday. On Wednesday, the Florida Anatomical Board, which regulates the distribution of cadavers for research and education, voted 4-2 in Gainesville to deny approval for the exhibit.

Board members were concerned it would not show the proper respect for the bodies, which are preserved and displayed in poses with titles like "Running Man" and "Soccer Player." But MOSI officials said they did not believe the board had the authority to block the exhibition and moved up the opening to Thursday.

"Notwithstanding the board's decision, Premiere (Exhibitions) and MOSI maintain that the board has no authority or jurisdiction over whether or not the exhibition should be viewed by the public," MOSI President Wit Ostrenko said in a statement. MOSI spokeswoman Tanya Vomacka said the decision to open early was made to avoid large crowds now expected on Saturday following the controversy.

She said about 500 people had paid to see the exhibit in its first two hours.

Adults are charged $19.95

and children $15.95.

Premier Exhibitions of Atlanta, which organized the show, said it obtained the bodies and organs legally and without payment from a medical university in China.

The Chinese government said the cadavers were unclaimed and unidentified bodies.