Legislation

"An Act Relative to Dissection Choice," House Bill 1252

Supporting a Student’s Right to an Alternative to Specimen Dissection

Background

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts does not require elementary or high school teachers to use specimen dissection as a learning tool in the biological sciences. No law, though, has been passed to protect students whose religious, moral, or ethical beliefs prevent them from participating in specimen dissection. Currently, these students are not guaranteed an equivalent educational experience or protection from academic penalty. Alternatives to specimen dissection include sophisticated computer programs, models, charts, videos, and/or books and, according to various educational studies, provide an equivalent and often better educational experience.

House Bill 1252, "An Act Relative to Dissection Choice," prevents discrimination and academic penalty based on a student’s religious, moral, or ethical beliefs.

Position

The Ethical Science and Education Coalition urges passage of House Bill 1252 to allow students, with parental participation, the right to an educational experience consistent with their beliefs.

Objectives

• Allow students an alternative educational tool when their religious, moral, or ethical beliefs prevent them from participating in specimen dissection.
  
• Protect these students from discrimination or academic penalty.
  
• Create an environment that encourages students to pursue and remain in the sciences.
  
• Reinforce the need for ethical underpinnings in science.
  

Summary

Students should be educated in an environment that does not discriminate against them due to their religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. This bill ensures that right.

For more information, contact ESEC at (617) 367-9143.

February 2001

Fact Sheets:  MA Dissection Choice Legislation | H. 1252 Position Paper | List of Co-Sponsors of H. 1252 | US Dissection Laws | International Laws | Letter to the Editor

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"In high school, I was forced to dissect fetal pigs, frogs and cats. This in no way contributed to my future career as a veterinarian; and, in fact, nearly derailed my dreams." (Read more)
—Lorna Grande, DVM

"I am fortunate to practice a profession which gives me enormous pleasure, intellectual challenge, and even spiritual fulfillment. However, the path to gaining my credentials was laced with episodes that I found ethically disturbing and very sad." (Read more)
—Holly Cheever, DVM

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