The University of Malta (UM) has condemned an incident where visiting medical students and professors from Italy were filmed dancing and singing while examining a cadaver.

The incident which happened in the Anatomy Laboratories at UM was filmed by one of the participants, and was shared on several social media.

"The UM has utmost respect for the cadavers used during certain sessions of medical training and this is a supreme consideration. For this reason, it strongly condemns the action of visiting medical students behaving in such an appalling manner in the Anatomy Dissecting Room," a statement read.

The University said that surgical and dissection courses are carried out with strict observance of proper decorum for the cadavers.

"People who decide to leave their bodies to the Department of Anatomy expect nothing less than the highest level of respect and, anything less, is reprehensible," UM said.

It said that the tutor who was responsible for these trainees, Professor of Forensic Medicine Cristoforo Pomara from the Catania University, will not be invited again in the future, and the University has already accepted his resignation as Affiliate Associate Professor.

The session was organised by an Italian institution for medicine in Malta, and several Professors coming from important Universities had participated.

President of the Federazione Nazionale Ordini Medici Chirurghi e Odontoiatri (Fnomceo) Filippo Anelli condemned the behaviour as shameful. Anelli called for disciplinary measures to be taken against the doctors involved.

Similarly, the Italian Society of Legal and Insurance Medicine (SIMLA) emphasized the importance of the cadaver's dignity, and their families be respected during autopsy procedures.