Cadaver talk: Medical students' accounts of their year-long experience

Abstract

This is an account of a year-long investigation of seven medical students' dissection experience. The purpose of the study was to belter understand what medical students think and feel during dissection to get their perspective, in their language. The written narrative is divided into three parts: before dissection, after the first cut, and separation complete. Each is further divided into themes that emerged from analysis of the interview data: anticipation of the first cut, the spirit/humanity of the cadaver, human markers, from apprehension to fascination, anatomical reminders, lived lives, and treatment and handling of the cadaver. Recommendations include concurrent coursework in the humanities, psychological support, parallel attention to students' professional development, and memorial services for meaningful closure when dissection is completed.