IMPACT OF CADAVERIC OATH ON FIRST MBBS STUDENTS

The transformation of a medical student to a practitioner with professional principles, attitude and conduct should begin from the first day of a medical college and it should be continued throughout. First year M.B.B.S curriculum includes the basic subjects of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry. Cadaveric dissection is a traditional method of teaching structural details of human body to medical students. Because of the problems related to the availablity of human cadavers,a shift towards greater use of alternative modalities including virtual anatomy, plastination models, computer based imaging and non cadaveric models is in progress. Cadaveric dissection enables the students to appreciate the feel of human tissues. It also gives the three dimensional view of human structure. Cadaveric oath was first started in 2016 with the objective of sensitising the new medical students to respect cadaver as their first teacher. Medical students and physicians must demonstrate sensitivity, respect, compassion ,emotional support and empathy at all times to patients and their families. Hence cadavers are to be treated with respect and regarded as a first silent teacher of a medical student. So, to appreciate the altruistic behaviour of a cadaveric donor, taking cadaveric oath becomes essential. A cadaveric oath is a pledge which students recite on the opening day to respect the dignity and integrity of the human remains that they are about to work on. Undertaking an oath prior to cadaver dissection is one of the ways by which the basic elements of ethics can be introduced to the first year medical students. Cadaveric oath conveys us to appreciate the mortality of the cadaver. So, a study is done to know the impact of cadaveric oath on first MBBS students. Methods The present study was conducted in the department of anatomy at Apollo Medical College, Hyderabad. A Questionnaire related to importance and impact of cadaveric oath was prepared and distributed to 100 students in the first year (2019) who took Cadaveric Oath and to (100 students) who were not exposed to Cadaveric Oath. The results obtained were compared. Results: It is observed that those students who have taken cadaveric oath have shown great respect & change in the attitude towards Cadaver and started treating Cadaver as a first silent teacher. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the relevance and importance of Cadaveric Oath as a part of installing bioethics in today’s age of medical technology.