The Value of Postmortem Experience in Undergraduate Medical Education: Current Perspectives

Overview

Journal Adv Med Educ Pract

Publisher Dove Medical Press

Specialty Medical Education

Date 2015 Mar 21

PMID 25792862

Citations 9

Authors

Andrew R Bamber

Thelma A Quince

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The autopsy has traditionally been used as a tool in undergraduate medical education, but recent decades have seen a sharp decline in their use for teaching. This study reviewed the current status of the autopsy as a teaching tool by means of systematic review of the medical literature, and a questionnaire study involving UK medical schools. Teachers and students are in agreement that autopsy-based teaching has many potential benefits, including a deeper knowledge of basic clinical sciences, medical fallibility, end of life issues, audit and the "hidden curriculum". The reasons underlying the decline in teaching are complex, but include the decreasing autopsy rate, increasing demands on teachers' time, and confusion regarding the law in some jurisdictions. Maximal use of autopsies for teaching may be achieved by involvement of anatomical pathology technologists and trainee pathologists in teaching, the development of alternative teaching methods using the principles of the autopsy, and clarification of the law. Students gain most benefit from repeated attendance at autopsies, being taught by enthusiastic teachers, when they have been effectively prepared for the esthetic of dissection and the mortuary environment.

Citing Articles

The Utilization of Animals as Models for Human Autopsies in Medical Education, Supported by Peer-Assisted Tutoring.

Ashmawy R, Shahin M, Ghattas A, Abdelwahab M, Abdelwahab L, Abdelwahab M Med Sci Educ. 2023; 33(2):539-549.

PMID: 37261011 PMC: 10226931. DOI: 10.1007/s40670-023-01735-w.

Undergraduate medical student perspectives on the role of autopsy in medical education.

Hearle P, Wong W, Chan J Acad Pathol. 2023; 10(1):100068.

PMID: 36798955 PMC: 9926072. DOI: 10.1016/j.acpath.2022.100068.

The "Magnificent Seven Errors" in Forensic Autopsy Practice: The Italian Context.

Scendoni R, Fedeli P, Cannovo N, Cingolani M Acad Forensic Pathol. 2022; 11(4):208-214.

PMID: 35003452 PMC: 8727839. DOI: 10.1177/19253621211056191.

Code of practice for medical autopsies: a minimum standard position paper for pathology departments performing medical (hospital) autopsies in adults.

Alfsen G, Gulczynski J, Kholova I, Latten B, Martinez J, Metzger M Virchows Arch. 2021; 480(3):509-517.

PMID: 34888730 PMC: 8660654. DOI: 10.1007/s00428-021-03242-y.

Autopsies and quality of cause of death diagnoses.

Rosendahl A, Mjornheim B, Eriksson L SAGE Open Med. 2021; 9:20503121211037169.

PMID: 34394931 PMC: 8351029. DOI: 10.1177/20503121211037169.

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