Donating you body to medical science...?
Discussion
Just been to a memorial/thanks giving service in Manchester for the 39 people who last year donated their bodies to Manchester University's Scientific Teaching and Research Facility.
Last year my Gran died and donated her body. She had a been a nurse all her life and took great solace and pride in the fact that students could learn from her body.
During the service it was revealed by one of the readers that since 1929 only 3200 bodies have been donated. I was quite shocked by this initially, but then thought "Well if it hadn't been for my gran would I have known about it..?"
Probably not really, and its something that wouldn't have ever crossed my mind either.
But now I think about it I actually think I will!
Have anyone else ever considered it at all?
Last year my Gran died and donated her body. She had a been a nurse all her life and took great solace and pride in the fact that students could learn from her body.
During the service it was revealed by one of the readers that since 1929 only 3200 bodies have been donated. I was quite shocked by this initially, but then thought "Well if it hadn't been for my gran would I have known about it..?"
Probably not really, and its something that wouldn't have ever crossed my mind either.
But now I think about it I actually think I will!
Have anyone else ever considered it at all?
I carried a donor card for decades until I heard of instances of people being declared "brain dead" and having their organs harvested whilst still technically alive. And worse, people successfully resuscitated after being declared "brain dead" because the doctor realised they weren't after all. 
But donating your body to medical science after you are properly physically dead? I don't have a problem with that. Why would I? But if my survivors had a problem with it and wanted to bury me for closure, then I would want that respected.
But donating your body to medical science after you are properly physically dead? I don't have a problem with that. Why would I? But if my survivors had a problem with it and wanted to bury me for closure, then I would want that respected.
JonRB said:
But if my survivors had a problem with it and wanted to bury me for closure, then I would want that respected.
Thats the main beef really, there being no funeral.I think for someone of my grans age (83) then thats not so much of an issue, but there was a family there today who's 24 year old son had donated his body and that must of been really hard for them - for having no big send off (so to speak).
Theres only the mass thankyou service today, and then later on when the actual remains are finished with there a private service which the family are invited too - although this could be some 2 years later.
I fail to see what use my body would be to medical science after my death, except as a warning to others as what not to do to your body.
Lungs - full of 20 year's worth of tar
Liver - high mileage, one careless owner
Eyes - getting worse by the minute
Brain - dazed and confused
Although, obviously, my "vital organ" will be preserved in a museum as work of art/national treasure.
Lungs - full of 20 year's worth of tar
Liver - high mileage, one careless owner
Eyes - getting worse by the minute
Brain - dazed and confused
Although, obviously, my "vital organ" will be preserved in a museum as work of art/national treasure.
Sheets Tabuer said:
Don't think I could, knowing my luck I'd get put on a research program entitled what is the largest thing a human male can take up the bottom.
Funny you should mention that, I watched one of those emergency type programmes the other night where a bloke had driven into a fence and ended up with a 4" square fence post up his backside. Showed him lying on his front in the emergency room with this post sticking out by about 12", it had gone right through his abdomen but had missed all of his vital organs including his privates, what a lucky guy.eldudereno said:
Sheets Tabuer said:
Don't think I could, knowing my luck I'd get put on a research program entitled what is the largest thing a human male can take up the bottom.
Funny you should mention that, I watched one of those emergency type programmes the other night where a bloke had driven into a fence and ended up with a 4" square fence post up his backside. Showed him lying on his front in the emergency room with this post sticking out by about 12", it had gone right through his abdomen but had missed all of his vital organs including his privates, what a lucky guy.eldudereno said:
Sheets Tabuer said:
Don't think I could, knowing my luck I'd get put on a research program entitled what is the largest thing a human male can take up the bottom.
Funny you should mention that, I watched one of those emergency type programmes the other night where a bloke had driven into a fence and ended up with a 4" square fence post up his backside. Showed him lying on his front in the emergency room with this post sticking out by about 12", it had gone right through his abdomen but had missed all of his vital organs including his privates, what a lucky guy.Has always been my intention to donate my body to science, have to confess I've not got around to officially doing it, but then read a book called 'Stiff' by a Mary Roach about research into how bodies decompose (more 'what happens to your boy after you die') and also a section on bodies as fertiliser, i may look into alternatives.
Shocked to hear how low the total donation count is!
Shocked to hear how low the total donation count is!
bint said:
Has always been my intention to donate my body to science, have to confess I've not got around to officially doing it, but then read a book called 'Stiff' by a Mary Roach about research into how bodies decompose (more 'what happens to your boy after you die') and also a section on bodies as fertiliser, i may look into alternatives.
Shocked to hear how low the total donation count is!
I'm not sure whether the count was for Manchester alone though..... I think it might have been. But even so, I'd have thought the number to be greater.Shocked to hear how low the total donation count is!
Quite a good turn out though, The Mayor of Manc (Councillor Mavis Smitheman) was there (resplendent in red and white hair - the colour changes weekly..
!!!!!????
... loads of professors, and also Dr Jeremy Metters, former Her Majesty's Inspector of Anatomy.
I meant to speak to him later in the tea/coffee session, but I would have dried up after "So, what car do you drive then?"
Edited by Fastra on Wednesday 29th April 18:28
eldudereno said:
what a lucky guy.
I think he'd have been luckier if he'd missed the fence/not crashed.. 
But, the cadavers are dissected so that med students can work out how the body fits together (though a friend of mine knows squat about the neck because when removing the head she was uh, enthusiastic, and a few weeks later when they went to work on the trachea......).
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