I have decided to give my full body to science.To a local university hospital.
Cadavers have always been in short supply and provide a great resource for students.

I will have no service and my cremated remains will go to my family after they have used my body for whatever reason they see fit.Any bone I have that is healthy can be used for implantation into people who need it.

My 22 yr.old son has a problem with that.I have the paperwork but I have refrained from signing until I can get him on board.My 29 yr.old son is fine with it.

He saw a movie called *pathology* where the medical students were playing around with body parts and being generally horrible as it was a horror movie. He seems to think this is a true possibility and his thought is that it would *totally freak him out* to think someone was messing with me like that after my death.

I have told him ,my body is only a shell and even if that were to happen,I am not there and my soul has left my body, it is not ME.

He said he just can't handle the idea and while I want to leave this earth doing a final good deed,I do not want to do so at the expense of my sons comfort.

I should also mention,the cremation is free and this would be a wise choice for financial reasons as well.

What are your thoughts ?

Thank-you in advance :)

If this is just on opinions...

I like it but I don't if that makes sense.

It is a wonderful idea and it would be an amazing gesture to give your body to help others in such a way.
The medical students don't go playing around with bodies at all. My friend was a med student and she cried and left to room the firs time she saw a cadaver.

The reasons I don't like it are purely personal. I guess it just wouldn't feel right. I'm not a big believer of life after death but I want my body to remain intact. Organ donation is a strong possibility for me but my whole body would just be too much.

If you do decide to do it just remember you are doing a wonderful thing.

I think it is a good idea. I appreciate people who do, because I want to go to med school.

My mom wants to do the same thing. And I am slightly uncomfortable with it, but that is purely because I have this crazy idea that she will die before I do dissections, and I will somehow end up with her. But I know that's unlikely and I support her decision.

Explain to your son that you are doing it to help people. You could save many lives just by donating yourself. He is an adult and he should be able to maturely understand that.

Any other thoughts? Just trying to bump up the thread here :)

I like the idea, as my MIL wants to do this. However, it prolongs the grieving process for the family. The cadaver can be at the university for a year or longer before given back to the family. The family then has to grieve all over again.

Wow, I never knew that J_9, I assumed it would be used a lot faster than that.

This is something I considered for myself also.
I was able to donate some of my daughters organs,and knowing that I was helping other families really helped the grieving process.No one else in my family would agree,but it was not up to them.

I agree with your thinking that my body is only a shell,the essence of me is not flesh and bones.

Donating your body,can only further science and make better doctors,who one day may save countless lifes because of it.

I applaud you.

I agree completely, I have donated my body to the Baylor College of Medicine in 1999 and I carry my donor card with me at all times, you are absolutely correct we only live in the body, the soul never dies. I do believe in reincarnation and yes we always will be here as a spirit, with a body or without.

To me it is important that people who study medicine learn on a human body, animals are not build the same way and respond completely different to medication, therefore I don't understand why they are used in anyway.

I like the idea, as my MIL wants to do this. However, it prolongs the grieving process for the family. The cadaver can be at the university for a year or longer before given back to the family. The family then has to grieve all over again.

As a nurse you should understand a full body donation, why would the family have to grief again, it is done when the person dies, you don't understand that, it sounds like you want to dwell in grief. Get a grip.

As a nurse you should understand a full body donation, why would the family have to grief again, it is done when the person dies, you don't understand that, it sounds like you want to dwell in grief. Get a grip.

I can understand you way of thinking, yes of coarse you can grieve after the person dies and then merely receive their ashes later as a memory, but I understand J_9's too,
A lot of people feel closure when they have a funeral and physically bury their loved one or receive their ashes. And I don't think she needs to "get a grip"

As a nurse you should understand a full body donation, why would the family have to grief again, it is done when the person dies, you don't understand that, it sounds like you want to dwell in grief. Get a grip.

As a nurse I DO understand a full body donation. With a minor in psychology I also understand the grieving process.

The body can stay in the possession of the facility for up to a year or more, at which time it is cremated and the remains given back to the family. When this happens the family is reminded once again, in full force, of the death of the loved one and the grieving process starts all over again. Therefore, the family grieves not once, but twice over the death of the loved one. While some people cannot handle the death of a loved one once, they must deal with it a second time and it can be psychologically devastating to that person.

I don't want to dwell in grief, just pointing out some of the psychological aspects. AND, MWilken, sounds like you need to take a psychology course or two and get a grip on reality yourself!

I think that is the most unselfish thing that anyone can ever do! I admire that very much!

I am not rude, I am realistic and if she cannot be realistic as a Nurse, maybe she needs a different occupation

Just because it is not something you would do personally, does not give you the right to tell someone what their occupation should and shouldn't be!

Just because it is not something you would do personally, does not give you the right to tell someone what their occupation should and shouldn't be!

Thank you!! I am very realistic, and I think that one of the most honorable, unselfish and admirable acts a human can do is give their body to science.

I was only attempting to point out why the family may feel as they do when another family member wants to do this. Apparently my post was misread by another poster.

Not all families feel this way, some do think it admirable and support their family members' decision. Yet, there are others who may not want to, or are afraid they can't, deal with the emotional baggage that comes along with the passing of the loved one only to be greatly reminded when they have to deal with it all over again when the ashes are handed back a year or more later. For some it only prolongs the closure.

I agree with you: once the soul leaves the body, your body is, well... not really you! Haha. I think it's great that you're wanting to help others with your parts afterwards. That's very kind of you: who knows how many lives you might save?

Anyway, I think good for you!

ask a Doctor who studied Medicine, they are very realistic.

Oh, yeah, and I studied medicine too. Ask any hospital nurse... we care for the patient more than the doctor does. They visit maybe once a day... We care 24/7. We know everything about the patient including, but not limited to family dynamics, and that is part of what this decision entails. The doctors do not meet the families most of the time, at least the extended families. We get to know them personally, what goes on in their daily lives. The doctors read test results and treat accordingly, we are the ones who are the patient and the family advocates. We step in when the doctor's advice/decision does not meet that of the patient or the family. The nurses are the ones who treat the patient at night, while the doctors are sleeping. It is up to us to make decisions at the last moment according to the wishes of the patient and family.

Believe it or not, we frequently question doctors' orders as we spend the most time with the patient, and orders are changed according to what we suggest. We are the medical personnel who become attached to the patients and families that we deal with on a long term or daily basis. We develop long term friendships with loved ones.

Don't you have anything esle to do as to attack me, I have my opinion and YOU are not able to change it, SO LEAVE ME ALONE, your opinion ist not important to me. YOU are not GOD because you are a nurse.

Besides the medical Profession does not care about the patient, they are about WHEN they get paid from the patient, it the patient has not money and no insurance, they will not help that patient, I do know that.

I appologise to J_9 for jumping in but MWilkin, it was you that first did the attacking by accusing J_9 of needing to "Get a grip" because of her OPINION.

Besides the medical Profession does not care about the patient, they are about WHEN they get paid from the patient, it the patient has not money and no insurance, they will not help that patient, I do know that.

It's apparent you have an issue with medical professionals. I'm sorry you feel this way. But not all of us are uncaring and only want to get paid. I am in it for the passion, not the paycheck.

To get back to the OP's question

I can see where your younger son is coming from, if you were my mum id have a problem with it as well, I know and understand that it is for a very good cause, but personally I couldn't get over people taking my mum apart and cutting her up.

Don't you have anything esle to do as to attack me, I have my opinion and YOU are not able to change it, SO LEAVE ME ALONE, your opinion ist not important to me. YOU are not GOD because you are a nurse.

Besides the medical Profession does not care about the patient, they are about WHEN they get paid from the patient, it the patient has not money and no insurance, they will not help that patient, I do know that.


I decided not to remove this post along with your others because it bears answering.

Yes there are health care professionals who are in the profession specifically for the money. But the vast majority of them are caring caregivers who actually work very hard for not so much money.

It appears you may have had some bad experiences with health care professionals. That may be prejudicing your opinion. But my opinion is that you are way off base with your denouncement of the medical profession.

Finally, you cannot dictate who responds to your posts. When you post anything on a site like this, you open yourself to comments based on what you post. If you are going to post biased, off the wall opinions then be prepared to have them commented on.

Thank you!!! I am very realistic, and I think that one of the most honorable, unselfish and admirable acts a human can do is give their body to science.

I was only attempting to point out why the family may feel as they do when another family member wants to do this. Apparently my post was misread by another poster.

Not all families feel this way, some do think it admirable and support their family members' decision. Yet, there are others who may not want to, or are afraid they can't, deal with the emotional baggage that comes along with the passing of the loved one only to be greatly reminded when they have to deal with it all over again when the ashes are handed back a year or more later. For some it only prolongs the closure.

I really want to honor my son and I feel bad that he doesn't get it.I will probably not sign on that dotted line because of that.I so appreciate your input ,not just with this issue but for all the good advice you give.Good job !

I really want to honor my son and I feel bad that he doesn't get it.I will probably not sign on that dotted line because of that.I so appreciate your input ,not just with this issue but for all the good advice you give.Good job !

Artsy, Thank you for the complement, but let me also say that he may warm up to the idea. It's probably (I don't know for sure) a relatively new idea to him. How long have you been talking about this?

Again, I think it admirable, and I would be honored to have you as a mother. Had it not been for people like you, I would not have learned what I have. It is people like you that have helped science progress so much throughout the years.

I truly do hope he understands some day and agrees with you. However, I also see why it would be hard for him. I see both sides of the coin here, as someone who has loved and lost, as well as someone who has learned and gives back.

Maybe put in your legal papers ''wishes'' that it is up to your family to decide and you have let your wishes be known. That way you have a voice and are not forcing them to accept it.

Maybe put in your ''wishes'' that it is up to your family to decide and you have let your wishes be known. That way you have a voice and are not forcing them to accept it.

This is a VERY good idea, as when the time of death occurs, if you have not signed on the dotted line, the family is asked what their wishes are as to how to handle your remains.

This can be done at your doctor's office as part of your medical file.

Artsy, Thank you for the complement, but let me also say that he may warm up to the idea. It's probably (I don't know for sure) a relatively new idea to him. How long have you been talking about this?

Again, I think it admirable, and I would be honored to have you as a mother. Had it not been for people like you, I would not have learned what I have. It is people like you that have helped science progress so much throughout the years.

I truly do hope he understands some day and agrees with you. However, I also see why it would be hard for him. I see both sides of the coin here, as someone who has loved and lost, as well as someone who has learned and gives back.

The cool thing is the conversation is still happening and I think we are making progress.
He's a cool kid and he loves his Mama :)
We are working on it ,he has read some post's! The one that favored him more than most (surprise ) :rolleyes: was you!
The dialog is opened up again and that's cool! My son really liked your input ! :cool:

I think it's a great idea, I too, plan to do that! I want them to be able to use WHATEVER they can. I am not taking this body with me when I go. Its an amazing thing to do. If your son has issues with it, you should try to get him to look at it like "you are giving the ulitimate gift, the gift of life" potentially. I'm not really religious, but if I were, I'd think God, or whoever will judge me would give me the thumbs up for helping others and not being selfish... after all... your body will just rot in the ground... :S

My mother and my best friend have talked about doing exactly that. I don't think my mother's ever bothered to actually find out where to get the paperwork needed to make it official. My friend has discussed the option with her family, and I'm pretty sure it's even in her will.

I find it admirable. They both want to help medicine, and there is the very real truth that it is more financially affordable.

My mother is coming at it from a more financial standpoint. She knows that when she dies there will be no money left behind to pay for funeral costs, and in fact may be debts left to us, her kids. The cost of a plot, funeral, and other services is more than she wants to leave us with.

My friend is coming at it more from the scientific side. She has had several health issues throughout her life, including cancer and thyroid problems, and more bone breaks than she can count. She feels that being able to study her body will give medical students and professionals a unique view into the human body and what it can overcome.

I can see both sides of it. I can't say it doesn't bother me a bit, but I can understand the desire. It may even be something I consider someday.

What may help your son understand and accept it more is if you let up a little on the no service idea. I'm not saying you have to have a full funeral service. Something like a small memorial service in a church, if you're religious, or someplace else, like a local park you love going to or a rec center that could be rented or even in your living room, would give them the chance to honor your memory and lend the closure that rituals lend.

If you don't already plan on it, then a tombstone could be purchased and placed at a plot where your cremated remains would be interred at a later date, or not, if you want them scattered somewhere in particular.

Being 22 myself, I can see why the idea bothers him. At this age we are still invincible, as are those close to us. While death is very real and something most have already experienced by this point, it is not something we actually think will touch those we love. I have lost 3 grandparents, an uncle, and a brother-in-law in the past 10 years, and death is still not something I see as truly a reality for my loved ones. My head knows that eventually everyone dies, but at the same time it refuses to admit that the people I care about will die someday. It's a tricky point in life, and one I hear passes in a few years.

Something else you can try is contacting medical professionals, students, those who have had family members donate their bodies to science, and those who plan to and ask them about their experiences and opinions. Maybe talking to them and hearing their stories will help your son. It may even give you a different perspective. The Internet is a huge place, there may be groups for that sort of thing out there already.

I think it is a really good idea. I went to med school and dissected cadavers for 2 years. We always appreciated and respected the person that we dissected (we each had a body for 1 year at a time). We thought that it was great that people were open minded enough to be able to do that. We need more people who do that and are generous enough.

I also believe that the body is a shell. Never once did I feel that I was violating a soul, or that there was a distressed spirit behind my shoulder! I suppose that I am not a spiritual person, but never once did I feel that the people who had once been alive in these bodies, were in the room. Just as when people die, there is the overwhelming sense that something has gone, something has left the body and that they no longer are in the room. This has happened every time I have watched someone die. The bodies were the remnants of a lives that had been lived. But saying that, I know it is weird, but we felt a kind of connection to our bodies (like we wondered who they were, what they had done in their life, why they had died etc). But that is just because we are humans right? I think that that is a reassuring thing that med students have feelings/are human?

That movie pathology was and definietly not accurate! In the morgue there was always a great amount of reverence and respect for the dead. We learnt a lot of things from our bodies, that we could not learn from a textbook alone.

I commend anyone who donates organs to others or their bodies for science. We need more people like this. I am stated as an organ donor. I don't however want to donate my body for science for the main reason that I know too many people in the profession/med school, so it would be way too uncomfortable.

I think that I would be a bit wary about plastination of certain organs though (preserving organs as plastic forever) in respect for family members. I would not want my face plastinated basically because that is too personal and recognisable and permanent, but I would not mind my arm or leg or other organ plastinated. It is all about finding out as much information as you can before you make the final decision.

Good luck with your decision

I think it is an okay idea, but my sister who is a doctor said that when she was in med school the people in her class used to play around a lot with the bodies such as moving the mouth around to make them look like they were talking...
I'm sure that not all people would do that though if your body were to go to a school.

The way I see it, once you die, your body is merely the shell that you used whilst you were in this world.

You can have no control over what people may or may not do with it once it is donated to science. People may respect it, people may move it into strange postures for fun; it won't matter to you because you won't be there. What will be there is your desire to help science, which is really what it is all about!

I CAN actually understand your youngest son's 'eeeeww' factor, but I imagine he will adjust in time.

Hopefully your demise is not imminent and you have many good years to live!

I finally saw the movie that your son was relating to. While it's my kind of flick... it was a disgusting portrayal of the medical community.

If any of us acted they way they did in the movie we would have been put out of school PRONTO with no chances to return.