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REVIEWS: Mudher Al-Adnani and Irene Scheimberg How can we improve the rate of autopsies among Muslims? BMJ 2006; 332: 310 [Full text]

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Learning from history

Sher A Aslam   (7 February 2006)

Learning from history 7 February 2006
Sher A Aslam, Senior House Officer Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9NH Send response to journal: Re: Learning from history	Al-Adnani et al report a number of reasons for the low rate of autopsies among Muslim people in Britain. (1) One additional explanation for this lies in the perception of medical practice in the medieval Muslim world. There are conflicting views regarding the art of dissection in these lands during the Middles Ages and the common consensus is that dissection was forbidden and that anatomopathological knowledge was derived largely from Greek literature. However, the value of dissection and anatomy is reported by others to have been fundamental to the work of physicians during these times, both in the purely scientific realm and in the belief that knowledge of anatomy would lead to a deeper understanding of God. (2) Armed with these facts, patients should be well-placed to make an informed decision as to the benefits of autopsy. (1) Al-Adnani M, Scheimberg I. How can we improve the rate of autopsies among Muslims? BMJ 2006;332:310. (2) Abdel-Halim RE, Abdel-Maguid TE. The functional anatomy of the uretero-vesical junction. A historical review. Saudi Med J. 2003 Aug;24(8):815-9. Competing interests: None declared