In truth, neither group is prepared. It is only when students begin to work with patients in the clinical setting (as interns and residents, then as "practicing" professionals) that they truly gain proficiency in their skills.
To appreciate the diminishing role of animal dissections in medical training, consider that, according to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, half of the 126 medical schools in the United States today have no animal labs whatsoever, and only one of the remaining 63 schools considers them mandatory. Also, at least 18 schools of veterinary medicine in the U.S. and Canada have alternative programs, in which students may learn their trade in a more ethically sensitive and usually clinically focused setting. There is no evidence to suggest that these students' education is compromised. In fact, one can argue that the sort of compassion that motivates their choice of learning methods makes them exemplary candidates ...
