A&P prof's inappropriate response to request for alternative to animal dissection

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

Published

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.

Specializes in Home Care.

All I can suggest is that you take up the matter with the department head.

Specializes in EMT-P.

I understand the choice to be a Vegan is a moral one, a disdain to the exploitation of animals in anyway shape or form such as, eating meat, drinking milk, cheese or even wearing leather shoes. This is a noble thing and I would not ever try to dissuade you to think otherwise but let me pose a question to you.

As a medical person such as an EMT or nurse, how many times a day do you think you will administer drugs to many people? In case you have not considered this, chances are 10 out of 10 that those drugs were tested on animals prior to clinical trials. This is a sad reality but it is a necessary one to ensure the safety of a drug. Consider again the magnitude of peoples lives that have been saved by our furry little friends who were called to duty.

Just like the use of animals in the betterment of mankind in the pharma industry, many school systems feel that hands on dissection of animal organs will make better medical professionals of its students and in return, lives will be saved.

I have spoken to pharma people concerning this subject and they assured me that the animals are treated in the most humane way possible. After all, many scientist are animal lover too, but this is a necessary downside for the progression of medicine and the greater good.

I don't know if any of this helps with your moral dilemma, but maybe it might.

I dont see how the disection even plays a part in a nursing program A&P class.

There isnt any point unless you are going to be cutting on people. Medical school could cover those aspects.

Good luck with talking to the Dept head if you try. At my school those tactics dont get the students anywhere. (Even talking to the Dean doesnt change anything)

With enrollment up and more people trying to apply for programs , they have someone in line right behind you to take your place.

Specializes in EMT-P.
I dont see how the disection even plays a part in a nursing program A&P class.

There isnt any point unless you are going to be cutting on people. Medical school could cover those aspects.

Good luck with talking to the Dept head if you try. At my school those tactics dont get the students anywhere. (Even talking to the Dean doesnt change anything)

With enrollment up and more people trying to apply for programs , they have someone in line right behind you to take your place.

When you were a kid, didn't you ever take something apart just to explore and see how it works? (Maybe this is just a guy thing). My point is, dissection of a organ is much like that of a clock, when we see how all the pieces intertwine as small building blocks into a functioning machine, one gains insight into the text written in the book.

It is my belief that if a nurse wishes to be the best nurse on the block, the nurse must have intimate knowledge of all aspects of that profession and that includes human physiology (ranked high in my book). For me reverse engineering has always been a good teaching aid. I am sure we could debate this till we are blue in the face, so Let my close by saying, dissection is part of becoming a nurse, so the end justify s the means. I was going to say suck it up, but that sounds rude, so I did not say that:)

I dont see how the disection even plays a part in a nursing program A&P class.

There isnt any point unless you are going to be cutting on people. Medical school could cover those aspects.

Every nurse I know dissected something in A&P (in my program, we dissected cats). Dissection is a standard part of A&P lab, which is a vital part of nursing education.

As for the OP, while I agree the professor's response was poorly worded, IMHO, you're making too much of this.

I think your prof's response was definitely inappropriate. Find another career? Yeah, that was taking it too far. But if your school does not have it in its policy, then I doubt that you really have a choice here.

I had a similar dilemma when I took Biology. I have an extreme phobia of worms,snails,caterpillars and anything that looks like them. I'm not talking about just being squeamish. Anxiety kicks in and I get horrible panic attacks. Even looking at a picture is problematic. I've had panic attacks in public when it rains and earthworms are crawling everywhere. So when I looked at the syllabus and realized that I had to deal with worms, I knew that I would not be able to do it. I even got my doctor to write a letter stating that I sometimes get panic attacks from looking at worms but the prof would not budge. To cut to the chase, I ended up getting points deducted because I did not go to class on worm days nor do any of the worm assignments.

It sucked, but thankfully those points did not carry too much weight and I was still able to pass with a high grade. If this is something you feel strongly against, and the points deducted would not hurt a great deal, then you might just have to skip the dissection. If it would greatly affect your grade, then skipping it would not be a good idea.

I feel for you though, I really hate telling anyone to do something that goes against their ethics. I think that there are just certain things that you should not have to compromise on.

But consider this, as future nurses, this is a hot button issue that we may have to deal with in the future. Not worms and animal dissection but things that may go against our own morals and ethics.

Good luck.

In my class, we dissected cats, sheep brain and parts of the human cadaver. I'm not sure I understand your ethical dilema in being vegan and dissecting animals that more than likely, died of natural causes or a disease, and were donated in the name of science so that not only future doctors, but future nurses, can learn and be best prepared. Are you opposed to dissecting human cadavers? It's not like you're a cannibal or have worn human skin either (other than you're own, I hope)? I'm not being facetious or anything, I'm really trying to understanding the objection when the animals are not being harmed or inhumanely treated.

The professor was a bit harsh in his delivery and could be a tad bit more understanding, however. I guess it would've been best on your part to find a class that only dealt with virtual/simulated dissections, as most anatomy lab sections will have some type of dissection component with either an animal or cadaver.

Specializes in NICU.

I do believe your teacher used a wrong choice of words and if you feel that strongly about it, I'd definitely talk to the department and present the emails.

At my school lab was a requirement and we were told on the first day that the disection labs were a requirement and failure to complete them was an automatic failure. I understand how you feel about the issue, but I learned so much during disections and i felt thatthey were very important.

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I just am curious about something- I make no judgement calls whatsoever! But what is the reason that you'd be willing to dissect a human being, but not an animal? Is it because humans have directed the donation before death and animals don't have a choice in the matter? Forgive me if I sound dumb, just curious. Thanks!

Yes. Consent is provided (I myself plan to donate my body to science).

There are cadavers that are donated by the family and the deceased has no knowledge of it. This, IMHO, is the same as the owner donating the animal.

The animal is already dead. That you will not prevent by your position. You will not bring it back to life. Maybe you can consider your disection as having given this animal's death meaning and value.

My online A&P required only the disection of a chicken which we were to purchase at our local grocery store. I guess this was far less an issue for me as I am an avid carnivore.

+ Add a Comment