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Integrating ethics into veterinary education: Addressing ethical concerns in dissection training

par Paul, Delphine ;Telese Izzi, Sonia ;Vander Marcken, Leslie
Référence Congress of the European Association of Veterinary Anatomists (EAVA)(XXXV: 22–25th of July 2025: Toulouse), Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia Online, Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia Online, Vol. 54, page (9)
Publication Publié, 2025-08-21

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Résumé :

Veterinary education must incorporate ethics into the curricu-lum to prepare future veterinarians for the complex moral chal-lenges they will face. While theoretical courses on ethics areessential, addressing ethical issues directly related to practicaltraining is equally important. Dissections, by their nature, raisesignificant ethical questions and provide an opportunity to dis-cuss ethical, legal, and deontological principles early in veteri-nary training.To explore students' perspectives on ethical issues in dissec-tions, 85 second- and third-year students participated in anon-line survey. Results revealed that 65% had encountered ethical dilemmas during their training, with 45% raising concerns about the origin of the animals used for dissection. These findings highlight the need for transparency and open discussions about cadaver sourcing. Since 2022, a veterinary body bequest program has been implemented at the University, modeled after human anatomy programs. Local veterinarians offer clients the option to donate deceased pets to the university for research and teaching purposes. Since 2022, 210 animals have been donated to the University. A total of 15 practices have contributed to this bequest, but more than 80% of the animals come from 5 different practices. These practices display flyers in their waiting room to inform owners about the body bequest program Discussions about cadaver provenance are integrated into practical sessions, fostering dialogue on legislation, ethics, and professional conduct. Survey results show that 85% of students feelcomfortable asking questions regarding animal sourcing. 75% propose discussions with teachers as a method for addressing ethical issues while 4% propose to address those issues through lectures.Teachers play a pivotal role in shaping students' professional values through their attitudes and actions, a concept known as the "hidden curriculum". By addressing ethical issues transparently and encouraging open dialogue, veterinary anatomy teachers can promote ethical reasoning and professional development.