POST-COVID-19 PANDEMIC: HOW SAFE IS CADAVER DISSECTION IN MEDICAL SCHOOLS?

Abstract

The practice of cadaver dissection is still largely used as a primary way of teaching and learning anatomy in several medical schools globally due to its enormous advantages. Despite the rise in the call for technology integration of virtual teaching into the modern medical education, especially virtual dissection in teaching anatomy, most medical schools prefer the conventional wet laboratory dissections over the new virtual dissections that are emerging. The surge in the creation of medical schools has led to a proportionate rise in demand for cadavers needed for dissection. Nevertheless, using human cadavers for teaching and training roles is embraced with certain ethical uncertainties. The recent emergence of COVID-19 has raised questions on the continuous use of traditional cadaveric dissections, as the cause of the death and safety of the bodies for dissection may not be ascertained before use. This paper recommends the guidelines and protocols to be followed before the use of bodies for dissection, and also proposes the possible integration and use of virtual dissection for anatomy teaching during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.