Is the dissection of cadavers a necessary part of medical education?

Dear Editor,

At what stage in medical training does one know whether or not they would like to become a surgeon? I have participated in Dissection Room teaching as both a student and an educator, and I have experienced and witnessed moments of inspiration that are unique to the setting.

Having spent a session diligently using a hammer and chisel to open the skull and expose the dura mater, I know one of my students is now contemplating a career in Neurosurgery. I myself was initially drawn to the prospect of becoming an ENT surgeon or an anaesthetist after an especially memorable lesson in which I performed a Cricothyrotomy on a body donor.

Furthermore, we see a different side of some students when in a unique environment. One of my quietest students in the classroom comes out of their shell in the Dissection Room, and has shown skill with surgical tools that would otherwise have lain dormant.

One cannot contemplate such a significant change to a medical curriculum without reflecting on the loss of opportunities.