The hospital mortuary: a place for learning about death and life

Abstract

Introduction: Having an opportunity to reflect on issues and personal views about death may better prepare medical students to care for dying patients. Doing so in a hospital mortuary, commonly regarded as a place only for storing dead bodies, may stimulate such introspection. In 2014-15, all third year medical students at The University of Hong participated in a hospital mortuary visit where they discussed death and how the mortuary provides care after death. Students completed a questionnaire survey before and after the visit and their written assignments were analysed for recurrent themes. Purpose: We sought to assess the impact of a mortuary visit in shaping medical student attitudes towards death and the role of the mortuary. Issues/questions for exploration or ideas for discussion: How does setting affect learning? What are effective ways to provide death education? Results: Students identified the mortuary as a place for mourning and grieving, and paradoxically, a place for life education. They also recognized the limitation of medicine in the face of death and were comforted knowing that compassionate care would continue even after death, in the mortuary. The idea of death still caused anxiety and students remained concerned about the difficulties in discussing death with patients. Conclusion: The mortuary visit allowed for the beginning of meaningful reflection on death and the positive role of the mortuary in patient care. A more extensive attachment may help students further consolidate and deepen perspectives.