New Perspectives in Science Education

Over the last six centuries, Human Cadaver Dissection has remained as an essential part of anatomy teaching in the medical curriculum. Approximately, two to three decades ago, modernization of the medical curriculum resulted in cutting down the anatomy content and Human Cadaver Dissection. This created a biased impression that Human Cadaver Dissection is outdated and no longer relevant in modern medical undergraduate curriculum. Decreased anatomy content and dissection in the curriculum affected negatively the competency of graduating doctors, general medical practitioners, surgery residents and anatomy teachers, compromising patient safety and increasing patient risk. Following this situation, all stake holders: anatomists, surgeons, students, and patients’ safety related bodies started advocating the importance of the Human Cadaver Dissection in medical training. Review of the literature shows that although, Human Cadaver Dissection role in medical curriculum is still contested, it has not been discarded from medical education. Rather it has been integrated vertically in undergraduate and postgraduate curricula with modern teaching techniques. Additionally, extracurricular Human Cadaver Dissection activities in the form of elective courses, surgery, emergency, and autopsy workshops have increased. Therefore, the accurate picture is that Human Cadaver Dissection continues in the medical education in modified forms and integrated vertically to post graduate level.