Abstract
Cadaveric dissection is an integral part of medical education and the basis of anatomy for first M.B.B.S. students. The dead human body has failed to elicit much theological interest, and until recently, little ethical interest. Dissection of cadavers is a time honored part of medical education. Undergraduate and postgraduate students do dissection as a part of learning human anatomy. Cadavers are obtained from the forensic mortuary declared as ‘unclaimed body’ or through donated bodies that includes voluntary donation during life or their after by the relatives. However, use of human tissue for research and the use of human cadavers for teaching and training purposes are surrounded by ethical issues. In this paper we will be discussing the ethical issues in relation to the use of cadaver i.e. respect for human body even after life.
Highlights
Ethical constraints in relation to a cadaver do not cross the mind of medical professionals as it may seem strange to devote attention to the value to be ascribed to the dead body or to ethical issues surrounding the dead body or a cadaver
In ancient ages cadavers were exhumed by unlawful means to study human anatomy
Cadaver dissection was not new in the time of Vesalius, where there was a physician-teacher performed dissection in the theatre surrounded by the students [1,2]
Summary
Ethical constraints in relation to a cadaver do not cross the mind of medical professionals as it may seem strange to devote attention to the value to be ascribed to the dead body or to ethical issues surrounding the dead body or a cadaver. Leonardo Da Vinci not being an anatomist had made beautiful pictures of the human body His paintings were very descriptive and the entire anatomy of the human body was given a three dimensional approach with his art. Students are able to get the feel of the human tissues and structures of the human body. It has been called the “sharp end” of medical education [6]. As medical institutions of various specialized disciplines have overgrown, the need for cadavers has increased proportionately [9]
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