The cremation of the Siamese twins is puzzling

The fate of the human remains from the Natural History Museum has long been debated. In March, a decision was made to move remnants to a conservator's studio and then make decisions about what would happen to them.

This aroused strong feelings in many. Among other things, Gothenburg Natural History Museum made a JO notification against Västarvet for violation of the Museum Act.

"Västarvet does not have the right to make the decision itself," Leif Lithander, conservation officer at the museum in March, told SVT Opinion about the relocation of the remains.

During the year, remnants were thinned out of the museum and Västarvet decided that the can of the twin fetus, which was donated to the museum in 1863, would be cremated and buried. This was announced by TT during Wednesday morning. But then something happened.

- I sat in a meeting yesterday when a colleague came in and said that someone had contacted the crematorium and said that I do not have the right to write on the papers for the cremation, says Gunilla Eliasson. managing director Västarvet.

According to her, someone who is not employed by Västarvet had gone to the Cemetery Administration and stopped the cremation.

- We received an order from Västarvet about cremation, but then a counter order came. We do not want to execute anything when it is so unclear but want to wait and see who has the remains, says Katarina Evenseth, funeral director in Gothenburg.

But when SVT News reaches Gunilla Eliasson during Wednesday night, she is surprised that the process is still stalled.

- I contacted the cemetery administration yesterday and explained the situation to them and that I certainly have the right to make a decision on the matter. Then we agreed that everything would continue according to plan.

But it didn't. And according to Gunilla Eliasson, she believes that it is an outsider who is responsible for it being this way.

Neither does Magnus Gelang, curator of the Natural History Museum, know what has happened, but he talks about communication problems with the management of Västarvet.

- I have no idea what's going on. But it is a scandal that the cremation decisions have been made on the wrong ground instead of our expert judgments.

What do you mean then?

- The management of Västarvet made a new assessment. But there is no reason to remove anything, as it is important to preserve it because it shows a story. If you remove anything that is inconvenient it may look nice on the surface but it is not very authentic, he says.

Nor does Stefan Örgård, director of the museum, know why the cremation has been stopped.

- I do not have enough facts to confirm or deny the whole thing. What I do know is that this should be handled with due regard for ethical aspects.

What will happen to the Siamese twins is unclear, but funeral director Katarina Evenseth says that cremation is not relevant when the legal situation is so unclear.