Negotiating humanity: an ethnography of cadaver-based simulation

MacLeod, Anna; Cameron, Paula; Luong, Victoria; Kovacs, George; Patrick, Lucy; Fredeen, Molly; Kits, Olga; Tummons, Jonathan

Abstract

Human body donation (HBD) serves an essential function in many medical schools, particularly in institutions where people engage in cadaver-based simulation (CBS) as a pedagogical approach. The people who facilitate HBD and CBS have a highly specialized skill set, yet their expertise remains largely unacknowledged, and takes place out of sight from the broader medical school community. This manuscript, based on a two-year practice-based ethnography (Structured Observations n = 68 h, Unstructured Observations n = 150 + hours; Interviews n = 24; and Document/Policy Analysis n = 14) illuminates the complex work of HBD. We identify three primary functions of HBD and CBS (1. Cadaver Intake & Administration, 2. Cadaver Preparation, and 3. Cadaver-Based Pedagogy). We describe how medical educators involved in CBS have developed a skillset specific to their role: negotiating humanity.

Citation

MacLeod, A., Cameron, P., Luong, V., Kovacs, G., Patrick, L., Fredeen, M., Kits, O., & Tummons, J. (2023). Negotiating humanity: an ethnography of cadaver-based simulation. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 28(1), 181-203. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-022-10152-4

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 7, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Aug 22, 2022
• Publication Date: 2023-03
• Deposit Date: Sep 28, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 23, 2023
• Journal: Advances in Health Sciences Education
• Print ISSN: 1382-4996
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-1677
• Publisher: Springer
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 181-203
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-022-10152-4
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1190841