On Inside NZ

Q&A with Professor Helen Nicolson (Dean) - Otago School of Medical Sciences

1. What inspired you to tell this story?

Paul's request to make the film coincided with increasing requests from funeral directors and families for us to provide more information about what happens when people donate their bodies. Six years ago we started holding an annual thanksgiving service for the families and friends of our donors. This is something that other Universities do overseas and I had been involved with personally in my previous position in the UK.

Our reasons were two fold. One, we (staff and students) wanted a way of acknowledging the gift that the donors had given us and particularly to say thank you for the families as we realise how difficult it can be for them. Secondly we were hearing from the funeral directors that many of the donors were not having any form of memorial service and some family members were having difficulty gaining closure of their grief and mourning. The thanksgiving services have been well received by the families and our students but have made us realise how little the families understand of the process. I have been to talk to funeral directors and also to some funeral directors open days but we hoped that this film would answer some people's questions. We also hoped that we would be able to send excerpts of the film to prospective donors so that they and their families could truly give "informed consent" under the Human Tissues Act.

At the time I didn't expect that it would provide such insight into our students' struggles and I will also be using the film to help prepare our students for working with the cadavers in future years.

2. What are you most proud of in the documentary?

Our students and staff! I guess I'm pleased that the film is about the people and not an Anatomy lesson. I've always thought our students were great but they say it for themselves in the film. I think it brings out how difficult it is for both students and families. I think it also highlights how much more than Anatomy the students gain from working with the cadavers. Our health professional students are going to have to deal with death and difficult emotional situations and the ability for them to begin this process in a controlled way and where their is a supportive environment and caring staff around is really important. I was impressed by how the students developed professionally over the 2 year period, the respect they showed and how mature they are.

I'm also delighted with the way Paul has put the film together allowing the donors and students to tell the story rather than use a narrator.

3. How have different viewers responded to it?

We have had positive feedback from everyone who has seen it. It was particularly pleasing, if nerve wracking, showing it to the families of the donor but such a relief that they were happy with it and supportive of what we have done. Amongst fellow Anatomists internationally we have had amazingly positive comments about the importance of the film and requests to use it in a teaching setting. The Faculty of Medicine at Otago has also been supportive. Some lay people have found some of the sections difficult but despite this have provided positive feedback and particularly have commented on the sensitive way we have handled this difficult issue.