Leaving body to science?

Gordon_T_2

Hi, we as a family have had an open discussion on the above subject. How it arose, I dont know. Anyway to cut a long story short, my mother said out of the blue that she would like to do the above. Now, everyone is in agreement that when she or any of us others pass away that we too would like to donate at least something. As we arent religious and fairly open about such things, there were no arguments or negatives on the subject.
Can anyone tell us how to go about the subject? We have all made funeral arangements and written our wills years ago. We have contacted the solicitors involved and have been told that its not their job to write up such things in a will.
Is that correct?
Is there a database that you can register with?
Do they (medical science people) take and use/dispose of all the body?
What happens about a funeral or isnt there one?


Hope this hasnt upset anyone its just I was hoping someone might know as there are limited bits of information on the internet about such things.
Just a point in the right direction should help us a lot..............Gordon.

Errata

Full info here http://www.hta.gov.uk/about_hta/donating_a_body_to_medical_science.cfm

Stephb1986_2

My step sister went to uni at Liverpool and I cant remember the name of the course she did but she got to basically use human bodies to see how they worked.

What happens is that when they have finished with the body they put it in a bag ring you up and say you can collect the person so you can bury them or what ever you want to do.

HTH

Steph xx

foreversomeday

I would rather donate my body to test medicines etc on - I don't believe in animal testing - is this possible?

I am on the organ donor register.

frivolous_fay

foreversomeday wrote: »

I would rather donate my body to test medicines etc on - I don't believe in animal testing - is this possible?

I am on the organ donor register.

I have a Humane Research Donor Card but I don't think you can get them any more.

There may be something here of help:
http://www.animalaid.org.uk/h/n/NEWS/pr_experiments/ALL/226//

or here:
https://secure.wsa.u-net.com/www.animalaid.org.uk/campaign/humane/wasted.htm

found another:
http://www.drhadwentrust.org/non-animal-research/donate-your-body-to-research

t_obermory

foreversomeday wrote: »

I would rather donate my body to test medicines etc on - I don't believe in animal testing - is this possible?

Given that you'd be dead not really as the organs need to be living, hence testing on animals as its enables the scientists to see whether the medicine would be effective and if there are any side effects. In order to develop new medicines they have to be tested on animals first or they just would not progress past the initial stages.

If you donated your body it would probably be used in a teaching capacity.

fifitrix123

Why not be plastinised (sorry about spelling) by professor Von Gunter at Heidelburt University and have your body on show for all to see and learn from? He is the guy who does the programme Autopsy on Channel 4.
I sent away for the information pack (look him up on the net) it was very well set out and easy to use and takes the whole family into consideration at your difficult time.
I have seen the exhibition and you could be a star after your gone, its fascinating and really helps.:beer:

starbump

Would you consider donating to benefit medical students? Universities need a supply of cadavers for dissection. As far as I recall they use the same cadaver per group/pair for the whole year and then attend a remembrance service at the end of the (academic) year - as a sort of thanks to the various people who donated their bodies. I think the service is open to the families of the donors.

Here are the details for Aberdeen but all the universities that offer medicine degrees will be similar: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/central/anatomy.shtml

clairec79

They will offer a cremation after they have finished with the body (and I believe you can choose the length of time you want your body to be donated for) some also offer a service at this point (which often the medical students will attend)

She needs to put the plan into place before her death though as you can't donate on her behalf (which reminds me have to get dh to fill the form in

AnnieM_3

A useful bit of reading on the subject might be this:

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

by Mary Roach

It's fascinating and well-written, and gives a good insight into some of the uses for donated bodies

HTH

tooldle

You will need to contact your local medical school for details. If you have a funeral plan in place, the undertaker will also need to know about the change of arrangements. The services of undertaker may still be required as not all medical schools / teaching hospitals are able to accept bodies over a weekend.