news bites

Plans to force mature graduates who take a second degree in medicine to pay £3000 ($5168; €4379) a year top-up fees up front will undermine attempts to diversify the profession, say the BMA and the Council of Heads of Medical Schools. The new arrangement is due to start next year, although undergraduates will still be able to defer repayment of their fees until after they finish their degree (BMJ 2005;331:982).

The British government has warned that training in anatomy is being undermined because of a shortage of donated bodies. Two dissection courses in the country have already been cancelled due to the lack of cadavers available for students. Officials have blamed rising numbers of medical students and increasing postgraduate anatomy courses as the source of the problems. Recent negative coverage, such as the Alder Hey organ retention scandal and televised dissections have put off potential donors. Jeremy Metters, the Queen's