Jon CornwallPicture this — you are a young medical student, conducting a dissection and the deceased suddenly says: ‘‘You are now cutting into my heart. ‘‘Use of griefbots for this purpose is controversial,’’ Dr Cornwall said. Their research showed thanatobots could hypothetically be loaded with a donor’s medical records, and could contain anatomy education software. ‘‘If used, potential benefits might include enhancing learning via linking medical history to anatomical findings and clinical reasoning through personalised teaching assistance,’’ Dr Cornwall said. ‘‘Ethical, cultural, and pedagogical challenges around thanatobot development should be critically examined prior to any incorporation into anatomy education.’’john.lewis@odt.co.nz

Source: Otago Daily Times February 12, 2026 17:02 UTC