Laughing Matters: An Exploration of the Ethics of Humor in the Human Cadaver Lab
Location
Room 217, Schewel Hall
Access Type
Campus Access Only
Entry Number
104
Start Date
4-5-2023 3:45 PM
End Date
4-5-2023 4:00 PM
College
Lynchburg College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Interdisciplinary Studies
Keywords
Anatomy, cadavers and humor, humor in the lab, dissection, cadavers, ethics, respect for the dead
Abstract
This project explores the ethics of using humor as a coping mechanism in the human cadaver lab. The use of humor in medical education has long been a subject of debate, although it has been shown by other studies that humor can be an effective coping mechanism to reduce negative feelings in the lab, others argue that it is inappropriate and disrespectful. The human cadaver lab, where students are introduced to anatomy and pathology, presents a unique setting for the debate of whether humor is an ethically permissible practice in higher level education or not. This project examines the relevant ethical considerations, including respect for the dead and the lab etiquette specified by university anatomy instructors, and conducts a quantitative study via questionnaire to gather perspectives from students and educators of mixed demographic data. The results of the study are analyzed and used to make recommendations for best practices in the use of humor in the human cadaver lab.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Price Blair Dr. Mary Helen Brickhouse-Bryson Dr. Virginia Cylke
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Laughing Matters: An Exploration of the Ethics of Humor in the Human Cadaver Lab
Room 217, Schewel Hall
This project explores the ethics of using humor as a coping mechanism in the human cadaver lab. The use of humor in medical education has long been a subject of debate, although it has been shown by other studies that humor can be an effective coping mechanism to reduce negative feelings in the lab, others argue that it is inappropriate and disrespectful. The human cadaver lab, where students are introduced to anatomy and pathology, presents a unique setting for the debate of whether humor is an ethically permissible practice in higher level education or not. This project examines the relevant ethical considerations, including respect for the dead and the lab etiquette specified by university anatomy instructors, and conducts a quantitative study via questionnaire to gather perspectives from students and educators of mixed demographic data. The results of the study are analyzed and used to make recommendations for best practices in the use of humor in the human cadaver lab.