Cause for concern over the shortage of body donations to University medical schools

Image Credit: Dominic Daly

A recent decrease in body donations to Universities for anatomical studies has raised significant concerns amongst senior medical professionals around students' advancement to surgical training.

A recent decrease in body donations to Universities for anatomical studies has raised significant concerns amongst senior medical professionals around students' advancement to surgical training. 

In a paper published in the Journal of Anatomy, Medical professionals have described the effects of the Covid -19 pandemic outbreak, highlighting the resulting decrease in body donations for universities' training purposes, and the associated impact on medical students. The paper, containing information collated by ten universities from Ireland and the United Kingdom, includes contributions from the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) and the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI) in Dublin. 

On March 12th, an Irish Government mandate, developed in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, required the closure of all universities in Ireland, including medical schools and their anatomy departments. According to the paper, a decision was taken by Irish Universities to suspend the acceptance of body donations due to Covid-19. In the paper, experts raise concerns over the reduced supply of cadaveric donor material, given its central importance in all anatomical teaching levels. 

There is a sufficient supply of donations for current usage from before Covid. However, the paper outlines the long-term effects of the pandemic. It recognises that there is likely to be a decrease in donor acceptance rates and donations due to Covid-19 in the future. 

The paper also outlines the move to online learning and its impact on medical students. 

The Authors of the paper state the importance of "hands-on practical teaching using cadaveric material…for the study of anatomy." They outline how the "associated benefits concerning student engagement, cannot be replaced or substituted for by virtual/online methods."

The paper also states that "early, largely anecdotal, experience suggests that the online [learning is] not capable of replacing the face-to-face, practical-based experience of an anatomy teaching laboratory". "[T]he hands-on examination of cadaveric specimens, and where possible dissection, remains the gold standard for anatomical education", it said. The authors recognise that "[t]he cancellation of practical-based examinations is also a concern."

According to the paper, online learning and adjustments will leave gaps in "core content, knowledge and practical application" for students. The authors assert that it will be "important to address how students that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic can replace or substitute these activities in the future".  

"It is clear that the short and medium-term consequences of Covid-19 disruption for the assessment of anatomical knowledge and skills will need to be addressed by targeted, quantitative research studies over the coming months and years".

According to RCSI and NUIG, the decision to suspend the acceptance of donations had already been taken in advance of universities' closure as body storage capacity had been reached. Information concerning this was provided to current and prospective donor families who were understanding of the situation.

Additionally, the paper recognises the potential importance of raising public awareness for the continued need for body donations, following the pandemic.