Graphic pictures of dissection

[DL82]

If most people were faced with graphic images of what takes place in medical teaching labs where human cadavers are dissected to teach our young medical students basic anatomy, they would be disgusted. Indeed, in the 19th century, people were so disgusted by this prospect that dissection was illegal, and doctors either had to learn on live patients, diagrams, animal carcasses or in secret.

Because we all know that dissection helps doctors to have a better understanding of anatomy, we don’t let graphic images dictate our views on these things anymore.

How do those who use graphic images of abortion expect to change the firmly held intellectual conviction of the pro-choice lobby that this is simply tissue, like the dissected cadaver, and that a woman has the right to choose? Surely this is not an argument that can be won by recourse to graphic images?

 

[AlanFromWichita]

I think the graphic images probably motivate the pro-lifers more than they convert pro-choicers.

Alan

 

[Elric]

If most people were faced with graphic images of what takes place in medical teaching labs where human cadavers are dissected to teach our young medical students basic anatomy, they would be disgusted. Indeed, in the 19th century, people were so disgusted by this prospect that dissection was illegal, and doctors either had to learn on live patients, diagrams, animal carcasses or in secret.

I visited Port Arthur a long time ago (It was a British penal colony in the 19th century in Tasmania Australia and then an asylum for a bit, but is now a historical site with many buildings still standing) and apparently there was also a religious reason against autopsies and such.

There is a book called “For the term of his natural life” which is about being a convict in those times, but it also was a sentence. You could be sent to the colonies for the term of your natural life, but for the especially bad they added “and unnatural life”.

Which means that people could do what they like with your body after you died, but it also provided a legal loophole for doctors to perform dissection that was entirely legal and above board.

I went into the autopsy room at Port Arthur (which was below ground to keep things cooler) and it was quite freaky.

Its quite strange the things that you learn.

 

[kentuckyliz]

I had a cadaver lab as an undergraduate, but it was view-only and no cut. Only the graduate med, PT, and dental students were in there cutting. There was seriousness and respect in that lab. It was not disturbing, but we had the proper context, the serious study of human anatomy and physiology. Not just some casual curiosity.

The community & technical college where I work doesn’t have a full human cadaver in its anatomy lab, but there are two full real human skeletons plus many real body parts in jars of formaldehyde or plasticized. The students aren’t grossed out by it, it has a real educational purpose of future health professionals, and I take prospective students there who are interested in health fields because it is such a cool lab, it really shows the excellent education we offer.

There was an organ donation sign-up drive on our campus recently, and I signed up. I talked to the nursing professor running it to ask why there wasn’t an option on the form to leave one’s body to a medical school for cadaver labs for the students. I would do this. There’s even a medical school in my town. This is a very worthy endeavor. I have had three primary cancers and I owe my life to my health care team and I feel a sense of gratitude to health care professionals. I would do it in a heartbeat and there is nothing contrary to Catholic doctrine or morality in doing so.

There are TV shows about the human body, on Discovery and those kinds of channels, and Dr. Mehmet Oz brings real body parts on Oprah to demonstrate what happens to your body as a result of lifestyle choices (healthy vs. unhealthy). People are interested in the human body and in the proper context, it is a powerful learning experience.

I don’t know much about voyeuristic dissection pictures, Australian prisons, or abortion pix. Can’t comment there.

 

[mapleoak]

How do those who use graphic images of abortion expect to change the firmly held intellectual conviction of the pro-choice lobby that this is simply tissue, like the dissected cadaver, and that a woman has the right to choose? Surely this is not an argument that can be won by recourse to graphic images?

For one, they are intended to persuade those who are ignorant or don’t fully realize the human-ness of the unborn and the very real (and disgusting) affliction which they are assaulted with. A ‘procedure’ that the pro-choice lobby is careful to use whatever in their power to keep it hidden from the public eye. It is realized it is not likely to change an abortionists mind or persuade those in the staunch pro-choice crowd nor the firmly convicted pro-choice lobby to come to a differing conviction. They are intended to influence the mainstream pro-choice crowd, the marginal, and those who don’t really realize how important an issue abortion is.

 

[neuro_nurse]

Autopsies can be morally permitted for legal inquests or scientific research. The free gift of organs after death is legitimate and can be meritorious. Catechism, 2301

 

[didymus]

Autopsies can be morally permitted for legal inquests or scientific research. The free gift of organs after death is legitimate and can be meritorious. Catechism, 2301

If one donates for research, is the body returned to the family for burial after they students are finished with it? I wouldn’t want to wind up as “medical waste.”

 

[AlanFromWichita]

If one donates for research, is the body returned to the family for burial after they students are finished with it? I wouldn’t want to wind up as “medical waste.”

One guy I met got his wife’s body back after a year.

Alan

 

[neuro_nurse]

If one donates for research, is the body returned to the family for burial after they students are finished with it? I wouldn’t want to wind up as “medical waste.”

That’s a matter of personal choice (I’m a registered organ donor, but I really don’t want to think about my body laid out on a slab in an anatomy lab).

The Church does not forbid the practice.