A Missed Opportunity: Humanities in Anatomy Lab

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Anatomy
• Humanities

Background:

• Traditional anatomy labs involve cadavers (body donors) for first-year medical students.
• Students may develop detachment from the cadaver, impacting empathy and humanity.
• Current anatomical instruction may miss opportunities to foster physician empathy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify gaps in current anatomy instruction.
• To propose improvements for anatomy education.
• To explore the benefits of integrating humanities into anatomy labs.

Main Methods:

• Reframing the issue using Jewson's metaphor of disappearance.
• Examining the history of anatomy and body donors.
• Analyzing student responses through humanities-based interventions.

Main Results:

• Detachment from cadavers can hinder the development of empathy in medical students.
• Anatomy labs present a crucial opportunity for students to confront death and discomfort.
• Humanities-based content can enhance anatomical instruction.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing anatomy instruction requires addressing the psychological impact on students.
• Incorporating humanities can improve medical students' empathy and humanity.
• Curricular changes in anatomy labs can better prepare compassionate physicians.