Question

Be familiar with Ch. 2 from Stiff. Mary Roach's discussion of the history of dissection

in medicine is another example of how medical systems change over time. Notice
that the "tradition" of using cadavers is an example of the "culture" of medicine—the
anatomy class is part of the process through which doctors develop a sense of
identity, or confront the challenge of dealing with death and dying. It also related
to the idea of death as a biocultural concept, as in the additional punishment of
dissection after death. How and why have attitudes about what happens to the
body after death changed in the U.S.?

Answer 1

Attitudes towards post-mortem body handling in the U.S. have changed from fear and prohibition to acceptance for medical education, influenced by Renaissance advancements and modern medical ethics. Evolving cultural, societal, and religious views have further shaped these attitudes. Imaging techniques have reduced the need for dissection, reflecting a balance between medical needs and respect for individual dignity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Attitudes about what happens to the body after death in the U.S. have changed over time due to shifts in medical practice, ethical standards, and cultural beliefs regarding the deceased. Fear of the dead and legal sanctions historically limited the dissection of bodies, which was essential for physicians to understand internal structures. Over time, this hesitance waned, with advancements in the Renaissance by figures such as Leonardo da Vinci and Andreas Vesalius. Dissection became an integral part of medical education. Medical schools used to rely on grave robbing before laws were enacted allowing dissection of unclaimed bodies, typically those of criminals or the altruistically donated.

As science progressed, particularly by the late nineteenth century, non-surgical imaging techniques, such as X-rays, allowed for the observation of the living body's internal structures without dissection. Medical ethics also evolved, deeming it unethical and illegal to harvest organs without consent, emphasizing the dignity of the individual even after death. Practices surrounding death, such as burial and cremation, reflect various cultural, societal, and religious beliefs that further shape attitudes towards the dead. These practices tie into the biocultural concept of death wherein what happens to a person's body after death becomes part of a larger cultural and scientific framework, impacting medical traditions and how societies perceive mortality.