October 09, 2007

Eww

Yesterday, for the first time, I saw a cadaver. Eww, eww, eww. I know it's an anatomy and physiology class but still, it was disgusting. I could go into details about what it looked like but some of you may never visit my blog again. lol I think it's great that people allow students to examine their bodies for science purposes after they have passed. I liked that we were told to respect the body and not do anything unnecessary because if someone did, they had to immediately leave the class and not come back. Good rule.

Maybe it was the smell of formaldehyde that was the worst. We've already dissected fetal pigs but I think the human cadaver was worse. Then before class was over we had to sign a paper saying that we were ok to be handling animals in the next few weeks. I made the mistake of asking what exactly we would be doing with the animals. Yeah, apparently we have to put some to sleep, do a procedure, then wake them back up. While others we actually have to kill.

See, this is what bothers me. The humans at least had a say and said they wanted their bodies to be used for science procedures, but the animals don't. That may sound lame, but the idea of killing an animal breaks my heart. I'm not sure if I could even do it. I'll probably be like the kid on E.T. and save all the frogs. I'd get an F and we'd have frogs running around campus, but hey they're free right?

Anyway, I'm not sure what I think about it. What do you think?

6 comments:

Beth said...

I don't know what to think, either. I'd have a hard time killing an animal myself -- they aren't going to do it ahead of time first? I mean, I dissected stuff in biology classes and never thought twice about it -- but if I had to see a cadaver (sounds like a creepy experience) and then be told I would be killing animals and cutting them open for a grade I would be bothered, too.

Michelle said...

Beth, I'm pretty sure we're the ones that have to kill them. I was it was a beforehand thing.

Kara, I don't know. A part of me doubts it. :(

Anonymous said...

Part of me doubts it too. :( I'm sorry you have to go through that. But it is for your knowlege in your field. My sister had to work on a cadaver too, for nursing, and she had to do something with the guy's knee. They weren't supposed to name them, but she named hers, lol. I'd have trouble in my heart putting an animal down for ever if it wasn't necessarily for the animal's benefit and only for mine. But, perhaps these are animals that will be put down anyway, and you will get the chance to learn from them, instead of them ending up in an incinerator instead of on your table. I know that's not much comfort, but it's the only positive thing I could come up with. *HUGS*

Qtpies7 said...

I don't know what I'd do, I'm just glad I don't have to make that choice. Sorry!

Michelle said...

Jen, that's what I'm hoping. I'll find out soon. :(

Katie said...

Oh I so totally feel you on this one. We had to do fetal pigs in high school biology, and it was awful. My hubby, though, has LOVED working on cadavers. I wouldn't last a day in med school.