I am taking online A&P II at a community college. The course includes a lab component, though lab is not a requirement for the nursing program to which I have been admitted. I am not squeamish (used to be an EMT), nor do I oppose human cadaver dissection. I do, however, object to animal dissection for ethical reasons. I contacted my professor to request an alternative to the cow eye and heart dissection activities citing my ethical objection to animal dissection, and the fact that I haven't eaten or worn animals for over two decades. I expressed my willingness to engage in an alternate activity, such as an interactive, multimedia software program (we already utilize such software to conduct experiments on virtual lab animals). My request was denied. I was informed that if I chose not to do the dissections, I would be penalized with a deduction in points.
In response to my e-mail asking my professor to reconsider, I received the following reply (excerpt):
Would you tell someone who is badly mangled in a auto accident and bleeding to death that you cannot work on them because you are a vegetarian? I would hope not. If so, then you should choose another career.
My professor also called my ethical opposition to animal dissection into question with the following statement:
I understand being a vegetarian but this assignment does not require you to eat these animal specimens.
I found his message to be inappropriate, offensive, and ridiculous. I would like to obtain some outside perspective and would appreciate any comments you may have about this situation. Thanks.
This is the first time I have seen a thread here degenerate into a display of intolerance and hostility. Mocking others and attacking them. Why pick on the OP? Why belittle the others who have posted opinions different from your own?
You haven't been here that long, huh? There are truckloads more threads like this, sadly.
I really don't get most of these comments. What does dissecting a cat have to do with being a good nurse? I dissected a cat during A&P. The only thing I learned is to become a better advocate for animals rights (and the benefits of spaying and neutering). I am a meat eater but I can totally understand how people can become vegan/vegetarians. I am leaning towards becoming vegetarian myself. People who are dissected have died natural deaths. Animals who are dissected have been euthanized either because they are over populated or just for the sake of dissection. We had to dissect fetal pigs in Biology (high school). I didn't learn anything from that either.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
You haven't been here that long, huh? There are truckloads more threads like this, sadly.
I think the author of that post was saying that the pre-nursing student forum was, prior to this thread, above that sort of thing, and disturbed that the ruffians have moved in to the neighborhood.
I think the author of that post was saying that the pre-nursing student forum was, prior to this thread, above that sort of thing, and disturbed that the ruffians have moved in to the neighborhood.
I don't think pre-nursing was quite that immune from ruffian behavior before this thread. Perhaps this one is more overt than the others but the ruffians as you say will find their way even in the graduate forum.
OK, WOW !!!!, yeah this thread is getting scary. This tells me that the people who refuse to dissect the animal, and argue with the professor about it. Makes me wonder if they'll stand over a patient who's coding and refuse to continue chest compressions because of their "Morals and Ethics" ???? To the person who started this thread your STILL a STUDENT. Most of us that are saying we agree with the OP, and that you need to complete ALL parts of the A&P assignment (as a class requirement).... WE ALREADY GRADUATED Nursing school..... Think about it..... Like I said in the last post Good Luck !
The cow was dead before it was dissected and the eye would have gone into petfood had it not found it's way to your college for the purpose of teaching Nursing Students about the human eye, using animal models. Would you have allowed your fellow students to dissect one of your eyes instead? If not, why not? Because you are better than an animal? Horrors! Bad Vegetarian! Bad human!
You need to understand that it is not your place to control your teacher's speech, define the scope of science or your own course work. You signed up for the class and it is what it is. Take your opinions and/or yourself somewhere else where the professors thoughtlessly believe and conform their speech to the leftist propaganda which you have bought into.
Trying to censor the professor because he/she doesn't agree with your values is the wrong thing to do, because your attitude and approach to this non-problem is based on your own narrow perspective.
The problem is with you and your offended-by-most-anything-I-don't-agree-with approach to what should be decided based on facts, not emotion. Do you really want to be a nurse? You decide, get a life, another school, or a different major."
WOW!! I couldn't have said it better myself! My nursing hat is off to you Jimi!!
One more thing, though... I think that if you don't want to do what is required to be a professional nurse, maybe you could go to CNA school, or LPN school doesn't require A&P lab, I believe.
And the professor has control of his class. It's silly to whine about his hurting your little feelings. If that's the worst that is ever said to you, you probably won't be a nurse at ALL! I've heard much worse from doctors, from patients, and even from my peers in 35 years of nursing.
I am the OP. To those who replied to my original post by offering suggestions, opinions (either pro or con) and perspective in a nonjudgmental manner, I thank you. To those who chose to ridicule, mock, and demean me and my beliefs through simple insults and illogical assumptions regarding my willingness/ability to care for patients, I don't.
Oh come on....... aren't you being a bit oversensitive now?
I challenge you to show ONE example of some "mocking and ridiculing" you because of your beliefs in this thread.
Some disagreed with you, but no one "insulted" you really. Ive been reading this thing and while people have been debating the issue, no one has really gotten personal or nasty except to say how rude the professor is......
In many states students cannot be forced to participate in dissection. Hopefully her state is one of them.
This is college, the class isn't compulsory like high school. No one is being forced, the OP signed up for the course of her own free will.
She just signed up and then wanted a personalized curriculum. The school is under no obligation to personalize each students curriculum to conform to personal choices they've made.
minirn
21 Posts
ok, juliaann. I do get the point you are making - But I still say she should just get over it.