Cadaveric Donation - A 10 Years Retrospective Study at D. Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur

Background: Dissection of cadavers is an integral part of medical education and the cadavers serve as a crucial resource of medical education and research in anatomical sciences. Thus continuous availability of the cadavers is one of the major concerns of medical colleges, health science institutions and biomedical research organization in order to fulfill objectives of anatomy curriculum of the undergraduate, postgraduate and researchers in the medical sciences. The present study is an attempt towards creating a database of donated human bodies for the medical education. Objectives: a) To promote the public education for the purpose and importance of body donation. b) To increase the awareness of body donation in female population. Materials and Methods: The cadaveric data from the department of Anatomy, DYPatil Medical College, Kolhapur were obtained for the period 1994-2014 (10 Years); for the purpose of study. The data were retrospectively reviewed and the descriptive analysis was done. Results: The cadaveric donation in the study period was about 179, in which the highest donation was of male cadavers than the female cadaveric donation; also the cadaveric donation was high in year 2006 which was due to increase in the awareness of cadaveric donation in the society. Among total donated bodies 50% were utilized for medical teaching purpose. Conclusion: Human cadaver is the foundation of medical science. Hence to maintain continuous teaching source it is necessary to promote voluntary body donation programmes in the society and to make females aware of the importance of body donation for the medical education.