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Lawmakers Call for Congress to Probe Bodies Shows in Wake of '20/20' Report
N.J. Congressman Calls on U.S. Attorney General to Open an Investigation
He said his own medical staff had seen no such evidence and that his suppliers have assured him that "these are all legitimate, unclaimed bodies that have gone through Dalian Medical University."
Smith said he is drafting legislation that would require an independent group of experts to verify the identity of each body on display.
Similar legislation requiring exhibition companies to account for the identity of each individual body on display passed in the California State Assembly earlier this month and will be heard on the Senate floor in March.
Assemblymember Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, who introduced the legislation, said she has been inundated with e-mails and phone calls since the "20/20" story aired.
"People were outraged that this is happening. The response has been off the hook," said Ma, adding that her staff has been monitoring the enormous volume of bloggers who have posted on various Web sites about the issue since Friday.
While lawmakers are gearing up to regulate the bodies shows, museum centers have largely stood by Premier Exhibitions and its Bodies…the Exhibition show.
The Carnegie Science Center released a statement after the "20/20" program aired reaffirming its belief that Bodies...The Exhibition is "unquestionably a powerful educational experience," and that it is proud of its role in bringing it to Pittsburgh.
"We saw nothing in the '20/20' report that we consider new or credible information," the museum said, adding that the report was "sensationalized and designed to draw viewers in during the sweeps rating period."