Dissecting Cadavers… reminder of death and life…
Published by Haseeb September 23rd, 2005 in Personal, SchoolYesterday we had our second gross anatomy lab. To be honest it was very weird going into the lab with all these cadavers in front of us, and knowing that over the course of the next few months we would dissect it completely to analyze and study human anatomy, all the way down to almost all bones, muscles, blood vessels, and nerves in the body. The first uncovering of the body was bad enough. It just felt so weird knowing we were dissecting actual people. People who lived and affected the lives of so many others and probably a loved one to many whose time was up. It was a little better to know that most of the bodies in our lab were unwanted bodies from the NYC hospital system. I wouldnt want myself or any of my loved ones’ bodies to be mutilated like they are in gross anatomy lab. In two labs alone we already dissected both arms and the thorax region. However, I know that the benefit in actual dissection is enormous, for there is no better way to actually study the internal structures of the body without actually examining them. There is no denying this. But it still was weird… In fact, even though weve dissected a significant portion of our cadavers so far, I still have yet to see her face. Our cadaver is an elderly small woman, with like a typical grandmother-type figure. As far as the permissibility of such studies are concerned, Islam Q&A says its permissible as long as its a non-muslim body. That seems pretty odd to me. All human beings are equally creations of God and were born with the divine breath of Allah 
instilled in us - Muslims and non-Muslims alike. However, of course after death, the divine soul of the body is no longer present in the body. However there is a great impact Islam should play in the workings of dissecting human cadavers. As Sunnipath says, working with these dead bodies should serve as a reminder of death. And it is always important to remain fully cognizant of death and how it can come at any time. So especially in dissecting human bodies, this should explically serve as a reminder of death and more importantly a reminder of the value and ultimate purpose of life. Umar (Allah be pleased with him) would say to himself, "Death is enough for a reminder, O Umar." The early Muslims (salaf) used to say, "The successful person is the one who takes heed from what befalls others." Allah Himself reminds us that, "Every soul shall taste death." And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) told us, "Frequently remind yourselves about the destroyer of pleasures," namely death. A true "reminder" would entail reflecting on what ultimately benefits–and to pursue it, and its opposite… During such matters–and in work in general–the secret of spiritual success is to remain consistently in the remembrance of Allah .
instilled in us - Muslims and non-Muslims alike. However, of course after death, the divine soul of the body is no longer present in the body. However there is a great impact Islam should play in the workings of dissecting human cadavers. As Sunnipath says, working with these dead bodies should serve as a reminder of death. And it is always important to remain fully cognizant of death and how it can come at any time. So especially in dissecting human bodies, this should explically serve as a reminder of death and more importantly a reminder of the value and ultimate purpose of life. Umar (Allah be pleased with him) would say to himself, "Death is enough for a reminder, O Umar." The early Muslims (salaf) used to say, "The successful person is the one who takes heed from what befalls others." Allah Himself reminds us that, "Every soul shall taste death." And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) told us, "Frequently remind yourselves about the destroyer of pleasures," namely death. A true "reminder" would entail reflecting on what ultimately benefits–and to pursue it, and its opposite… During such matters–and in work in general–the secret of spiritual success is to remain consistently in the remembrance of Allah .
“As far as the permissibility of such studies are concerned, Islam Q&A says its permissible as long as its a non-muslim body”
I think at times one needs to make their own decisions on whats permitted or not. it seems pretty absurd to me to go to a website for guidance on something of this nature. Especially when the guidance is pretty hypocritical. Why ask some scholar who will comment on something that wasnt even done back in those days? Were he to say ‘no it is never permissible’ would one drop out of medical school? I think the answer is clear. Additionally, I don’t think that the fact that the bodies are unclaimed bodies from the nyc morgue makes it any better at all. These were just people who happened to die w/o ID or in a foreign city or w/o any loved ones to check up the morgues for them. I think they should use bodies from the prison system.
gosh, what a coincidence…our cadaver is a tiny statured old woman (grandmotherly, but it helps not to think like that).
As-salaamu ‘alaykum
@ please: seeking guidance/advice is never absurd
I had to dissect a cadaver the third week of school. We were working in paires and the girl that was with me refused to stand up and work on the assignment for longer than 10 minutes. And it was a total assignment of 4 hours!
Btw: the cadavers in holland had to have given a written permission during their lifetime. But i did think: did they really give their permission?
I was very upset that they let us dissect those cadavers the third week of school because our level of knowledge was absolutely zero. And i am positive that after that assignment our level of knowledge was still zero!
For most of the students it was the first time they ever saw a dead person, how can you memorize something when you’re constantly thinking “Oh my God, i am cutting in a dead person” ?
So it was more a confrontation with dead people and death itself. The way back home that day was so weird, i couldn’t stop looking at people and think: they are going to die one day, we are all going to die one day.
To make a long story short: i’m not going to specialize in pathology
Wa-’alaykumu salaam
Dounia
I think everyone is way too concerned on the fact that these people were alive. They WERE alive, were being the operative term; ummm, they’re dead now. How else do you hope to learn about the human body? By looking at clear cut diagrams in the medical books we are given? I think everything about dissecting a cadaver is cool. Not only did you not ever know about the person that you are cutting into, but if you are concerned about all that other stuff, then why are you in med school?
“t was a little better to know that most of the bodies in our lab were unwanted bodies from the NYC hospital system. ”
Really, I would think worse of that option. I was under the impression that these were people who sold their bodies to science after they died, and stated it in their will. That would be far better than someone who died without any next of kin or anyone to claim the body.