Oh geesh, classes have just started and ALREADY I have a problem.
You see I'm a vegetarian and my lab for Anatomy and Physiology has a part to it that is dissecting a cat. Problem is I have a respect for life and am a strict vegetarian (no leather, meat of any kind, etc.) This is part of the reason why I want to become a nurse - to help the world not hurt it. If I dissect a cat then I will be directly responsible for that cat having been killed. What should I do? The lab (as a whole) looks like it is one third of the final grade. I've already emailed the dean of students, and I'm waiting to hear back from him. I can't imagine that I'm the only one to ever have had this problem. Nursing schools weigh GPA very heavily. I want to kick ass.. any suggestions?
I can look in on others doing a dissection (as that is their own choice), but if I do it myself then I become responsible. Sigh.
I'm trying to get my head around wether or not it makes a difference if they were donated or bought. I'm anti-euthanasia too. I know that it happens and does it make it better that the cats are donated (I hope and not bought)afterwards? Wow this is tough. Those cats can't speak for themselves... I'm not religous. The only thing I've ever believed in was another creature's right to co-exist. For those innocent animals to make their own destinies and be treated well. Wow, I'm pretty torn up about this. Thanks for all the responses so far. I appreciate it.
I'm an animal lover and had a really hard time with the dissections in A&P. Fortunately we used fetal pigs instead of cats. I have 3 beautiful kitties and I'm not sure how I would've dealt with that. Let me say this though, if that would have been an obstacle to my completion of the RN program, I would've found a way to deal with it. Just try to separate yourself from it and think of it not as an animal but strictly anatomy. Good Luck!
I totally disagree. Is everyone forgetting about a little thing called civil liberties? If this dissection interfers with her personal beliefs she can not be penalized for that. In many hospitals healthcare workers are very diverse in beliefs, ethnic backgrounds etc. there are policies in place that if someone is uncomfortable with certain meds, proceedures (such as transfussions etc) they can abstain from involvement. My health system in michigan has such policies. My college never penalized me either about not dissecting. I prefer not to cut up a dead animal i am not a vet student i am a nurse student.
Oh I know how you feel. This was why I took the A&P that didn't dissect animals. Is there another class that you can take? Quite a few professors will say that either you dissect or you will fail. Good luck in your decision. I know it is a hard one. I have been there and hope I never have to be there again.
A lot of people would look at religious beliefs but not if you are a veg*n. They do not think being a vegetarian counts in being excluded for dissection. I think it all depends on where you live.
I totally disagree. Is everyone forgetting about a little thing called civil liberties? If this dissection interfers with her personal beliefs she can not be penalized for that. In many hospitals healthcare workers are very diverse in beliefs, ethnic backgrounds etc. there are policies in place that if someone is uncomfortable with certain meds, proceedures (such as transfussions etc) they can abstain from involvement. My health system in michigan has such policies. My college never penalized me either about not dissecting. I prefer not to cut up a dead animal i am not a vet student i am a nurse student.
Disagree again, people have many, many reasons for the way they believe. no institution nor anyone else can assume that being a vegetarian lacks any personal, moral, ethical or spiritual belief system. That would be discriminatory. People who choose this lifestyle are indeed very spiritual. Once again, your civil liberties protect your personal beliefs and no one can or has a right to give you the third degree or pass judgment and personally decide that they don't think your beliefs are valid.
A lot of people would look at religious beliefs but not if you are a veg*n. They do not think being a vegetarian counts in being excluded for dissection. I think it all depends on where you live.
You are preaching to the wrong crowd. I agree with everything that you have said. I don't eat meat and I don't wear any fur or leather so I know how the lifestyle is. Everyone around me though does not know the lifestyle. You disagreeing with me all of the time just reminds me of my husband and everyone around me so from now on if you want to keep disagreeing with me, you can private message me. To the original poster, I wish you luck in whatever you decide to do.
Disagree again, people have many, many reasons for the way they believe. no institution nor anyone else can assume that being a vegetarian lacks any personal, moral, ethical or spiritual belief system. That would be discriminatory. People who choose this lifestyle are indeed very spiritual. Once again, your civil liberties protect your personal beliefs and no one can or has a right to give you the third degree or pass judgment and personally decide that they don't think your beliefs are valid.
Would you volunteer to be tested on? Do you wear make-up? Is anything you use, eat, wear been tested on an animal?
It's either an animal or a human, and if you volunteer just to save an animal, go right ahead.
Either that, or you could think of disecting the cat as a measure to save HUMAN life. Which, in my opinion is MORE important than an animal. I love animals, don't get me wrong. ...Even when I smoosh an ant, a stupid insect, I feel bad.....lol
I'd much rather learn from a cat. Using animals in labs have saved, and will continue to save many people from death. If one of those people saved happen to be one of my children, myself, or any of my family, then it was worth the animal's life.
Disagree again, people have many, many reasons for the way they believe. no institution nor anyone else can assume that being a vegetarian lacks any personal, moral, ethical or spiritual belief system. That would be discriminatory. People who choose this lifestyle are indeed very spiritual. Once again, your civil liberties protect your personal beliefs and no one can or has a right to give you the third degree or pass judgment and personally decide that they don't think your beliefs are valid.
I think she should be able to get out of doing the disection if it is that morally repulsive to her, too. I agree it is a civil liberties issue.
Roxburin...I think the morality piece is what your case is based upon. Doesn't matter to you which life others may believe is most important does it? I hear you and respect that. Buddhists believe similarly. I'm not Buddhist and you don't have to be either, but I think you'll find that the school has to respect the the disection of a cat has a huge moral component that goes against your entire belief system. I'll be interested to learn how this turned out for you.
I apologize if I offended you, that would never ever be my intention. I merely disagreed with you about civil liberties and freedom of beliefs, this I know to be true. I did not personally attack you or assume anything about you. I am never one to preach, I happily go on about my life making choices for myself and family and I respect others beliefs. You have my deepest empathy when it comes to constant argument and opposition with loved ones around you. All you can do is what feels right for yourself and that is all that really matters. Remember, you don't need to validate your beliefs to anyone. You only need to be true to yourself. Let me know if I can be of help in some way. Colleen
You are preaching to the wrong crowd. I agree with everything that you have said. I don't eat meat and I don't wear any fur or leather so I know how the lifestyle is. Everyone around me though does not know the lifestyle. You disagreeing with me all of the time just reminds me of my husband and everyone around me so from now on if you want to keep disagreeing with me, you can private message me. To the original poster, I wish you luck in whatever you decide to do.
makeup ,food clothes plant derived, no leather, fur etc. don't kill anything unless it attacks first.. mosquito, spider gently put outside etc. animal testing is not accurate. there is lots of data to support this. There are far more cutting edge research tools available without using spot the family pet. It comes down to money. I plan on donating all of my organs to help save lives of humans and I would like to see some be used for dissecition to spare some kitties along the way. As far as dissection is concerned we are not remotely close to a cat biologically (cat carnivoure) (human herbivoure). Here is an interesting question. If your family dog was sick and you were desperate to find a cure, would you support drug testing on a healthy child? Putting the instant thought of cruelty to the child aside. Really think about this, just how similar is the dog and the child?
OK...I can understand your point, but.....
Would you volunteer to be tested on? Do you wear make-up? Is anything you use, eat, wear been tested on an animal?
It's either an animal or a human, and if you volunteer just to save an animal, go right ahead.
Either that, or you could think of disecting the cat as a measure to save HUMAN life. Which, in my opinion is MORE important than an animal. I love animals, don't get me wrong. ...Even when I smoosh an ant, a stupid insect, I feel bad.....lol
I'd much rather learn from a cat. Using animals in labs have saved, and will continue to save many people from death. If one of those people saved happen to be one of my children, myself, or any of my family, then it was worth the animal's life.
I totally disagree. Is everyone forgetting about a little thing called civil liberties? If this dissection interfers with her personal beliefs she can not be penalized for that. In many hospitals healthcare workers are very diverse in beliefs, ethnic backgrounds etc. there are policies in place that if someone is uncomfortable with certain meds, proceedures (such as transfussions etc) they can abstain from involvement. My health system in michigan has such policies. My college never penalized me either about not dissecting. I prefer not to cut up a dead animal i am not a vet student i am a nurse student.
I think civil liberties only go so far especially when you are responsible for another person's life. To learn the basics of anatomy is a must! I agree it would be better to use human cadavers (I have worked with both) but until that opportunity arises the next best thing is an animal. Cats have structures similar in ways to humans that is why they use them (at least that is what I know to be true).
However, I do understand that is has to be hard for you and I wish you went to a school of higher learning that would let you use human cadavers that have given consent to be used for education.
I am also a donor, but will not donate my whole body to science. My family needs something to bury. However, some in my family have donated their bodies to science.
If my family pet was ill, and there was not a cure, I would have it put to sleep to get it out of its misery. I do not support cruelty. I do not think pets should live in pain.
If my child was ill, you bet I'd allow my pet to be used for testing. If my pet was ill, you bet I'd let another pet be put to sleep to find a cure!
I do not wear fur, I eat Tuna that is dolphin safe, I do not eat dogs, ....there's a lot of humane characteristics that I do have.
We just have a difference in opinion, as it should be. If everyone thought the same, we would live in one boring world. :)
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roxburin
31 Posts
I'm trying to get my head around wether or not it makes a difference if they were donated or bought. I'm anti-euthanasia too. I know that it happens and does it make it better that the cats are donated (I hope and not bought)afterwards? Wow this is tough. Those cats can't speak for themselves... I'm not religous. The only thing I've ever believed in was another creature's right to co-exist. For those innocent animals to make their own destinies and be treated well. Wow, I'm pretty torn up about this. Thanks for all the responses so far. I appreciate it.