AMA Journal of Ethics, September 2019 813 

AMA Journal of Ethics® 
September 2019, Volume 21, Number 9: E813-814 
 
ART OF MEDICINE 
Anatomy of a Medical Student 
Fatimah Hafeez Choudhary 
 

Abstract  
A reductive linocut is created in progressive stages from a single block. 
Each color is printed on top of a previous layer, such that each cut is 
irremediable. This reductive linocut print is of a young woman’s face with 
one side exposing what lies below her skin. The finality imposed by this 
medium offers an apt analogy to a medical student’s first human cadaver 
anatomy dissection.  

 
Figure. Anatomy of a Medical Student  

 
 
Media  
Reductive linocut print.  
 



 www.amajournalofethics.org 814 

A reductive linocut is created in progressive stages from a single block. Each layer is 
carved and color is printed on top of the previous layer. The medium was invented by 
Pablo Picasso,1 and it is aptly referred to as the “suicide print,” as it is virtually impossible 
to go back and recover from a mistake. Each cut is decisive, irremediable. When I first 
held scalpel to skin, I was doing dissection with fellow students, and there was 
tremendous pressure not to make a mistake. A broader ethical challenge for us medical 
students would be to pursue dissection while expressing respect for our cadaver’s 
humanity. 
 
References  

1. Haney A. History and Techniques of Printmaking [master’s thesis]. Prescott, AZ: 
Prescott College; 2015. 
https://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/1694750725.html?FMT=AI. Accessed May 
2, 2019.  

 
Fatimah Hafeez Choudhary is a Brooklyn-based artist and medical student at the SUNY 
Downstate College of Medicine in Brooklyn, New York. She earned a BA in studio art at 
CUNY Brooklyn College. She merges her experiences in art and clinical training to explore 
themes in the medical humanities.  
 

Editor's Note 
This is the co-winning artwork of the 2018 John Conley Art of Medicine Contest. 
 
Citation 
AMA J Ethics. 2019;21(9):E813-814. 
 
DOI 
10.1001/amajethics.2019.813. 
 
Conflict of Interest Disclosure 
The author(s) had no conflicts of interest to disclose. 
 
The viewpoints expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not 
necessarily reflect the views and policies of the AMA. 

 
 
 
 
 
Copyright 2019 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.  
ISSN 2376-6980 

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