They only want you for your body...

Published on Friday 23 January 2009 21:21

THE number of bodies donated to Scottish medical schools for training rose to its highest ever level last year – but more are still needed.

Figures from Scotland's Inspector of Anatomy show 163 bodies were received last year, up from 135 in 2007 and 145 the previous year.

But medical schools believe still more are needed to give trainees hands-on practice before they start work.

Following changes to medical training in the 1990s, students now spend less time on dissection so other subjects can be fitted into the curriculum.

In some medical schools, students get no dissection experience and are instead taught anatomy using other methods.

But since the Human Tissue Act 2006, medical schools have been allowed to use bodies for practising surgical procedures, leading to a rising demand.

Gordon Findlater, the director of anatomy at Edinburgh University, said the medical school was only just achieving the minimum number of bodies needed to train students.

"Since the Human Tissue Act 2006, we have had an increased need for bodies because we can now practise procedure on bodies in surgical training.

"In 2007, we accepted 12 bodies, but last year we accepted 23," he said. "We are not in the luxurious situation of saying 'no thanks' yet. At the moment, we are just meeting demand, but if demand increases, we are going to have to increase the number we can take."

John Hallett, the chairman of the British Medical Association's Scottish medical students committee, said there was still a shortage of bodies for medical students to use to increase their knowledge of anatomy.

Anyone wishing to donate their body for training should contact a local medical school.