Whither pathology in medical education?

To the Editor: The issues raised in the editorial by Weedon1 are a sad reflection on current medical education. Weedon voiced the serious concern of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia regarding the downgrading and marginalising of the teaching of pathology because of the ascendancy of problem-based learning, to the detriment of the basic sciences pathology, physiology and anatomy.

Weedon reminded us of Virchow’s pronouncement that applying the doctrines of pathology “helps to deepen biological knowledge, and to light up still further that region of the unknown which still envelops the intimate structure of living matter”. That statement also applies to anatomy and physiology. It could not have been said better.

Some years ago, while I was on the Curriculum Committee of the University of Adelaide, the Committee agreed to recommend that the basic sciences continue to be taught throughout the medical course. Unfortunately, the recommendation was not accepted, and now the position is even worse. I find it very difficult to understand the priorities of the current medical curricula and who is making the recommendations.

I feel the excitement of the study of medicine is disappearing, and hope it is not too late to reverse the current trend.