Donating Body to Medicine....too thrifty?

FrugalFranny

I want to save my son the expense of a funeral so I've decided I'd like to donate my body to medical science after I pass on. I haven't mentioned it to him yet but I will be letting him know before I put it into my will just so it doesn't come as a shock.

My parents did the same thing but without warning the family which caused a lot of upset at first, but I couldn't fault them on their decision as they were always very thrifty when they were alive and they would have wanted their bodies to help in some way toward training the next generation of doctors.

My question is, is this a step too far in the name of thrift?

I'd like a few opinions before I 'carve it in stone', I can't discuss this with my remaining family as the issue has never really been resolved. It was the shock I think, not knowing what they had decided without be informed beforehand.
This won't be the case if I go through with it, my son will know (hopefully) many years before I shuffle off the mortal coil.

jackieb

How did your son react when he found out about your parents wishes? And how did he feel afterwards?

FrugalFranny

He never knew them really, they moved to Scotland when he was a tot to live closer to my sister (she was rather fragile at the time and they loved it up there). They were only a photo to him really, he's a man of few words at best and didn't seem to really bothered.

FrugalFranny

mandi wrote: »

Your a person after my own heart Frugal . I would imagine you will of course look for a discount code

Be even better if I can get some money back

*zippy*

This has caused a big upset in my family too, a lot of it could have been avoided if it was talked about properly, chat to your Son first

pearl123

I do believe that the family have to arrange to get the body to the final location, as opposed to it being picked up. Also if the person has something like MRSA then they will refuse to take the body.

Person_one

Talk to individual medical schools to see how it works. You can't just 'put it in your will' it has to be arranged beforehand.

The one my relative has donated his body to take care of all the expenses and the transport and hold a lovely memorial service every year as a thank you to the people who've donated that year.

As someone who has benefitted in my education from the kindness of people who have donated their bodies I actually think its a wonderful thing to do and the bodies are treated with the utmost respect and strict regulations.

Of course, discussing it with family is essential.

FrugalFranny

Thank you all for your replies, I'll have the details worked out with my solicitor and make sure it all goes to plan when it comes about.
I'm just glad to see that it's not a totally alien idea, the way some of the family reacted was shocking when it happened with my parents. It might have been the 'double whammy' of their passing then finding out their wishes.
Now to bring up the subject after a nice dinner

Thanks again!

scooby088

I have heard that most medical schools are very choosy in what they accept, they don't just take any body so to say, if you are serious then research it and then put it in your will.

Person_one

scooby088 wrote: »

I have heard that most medical schools are very choosy in what they accept, they don't just take any body so to say, if you are serious then research it and then put it in your will.

You do need to have a pre-arrangement with a medical school though and your family need to be aware so that the arrangements can be carried out as soon as you die, if you just put it in your will it'll be too late!

saker75

As a former Funeral Director this used to come up a lot.

Very few bodies are accepted for medical research. Very few. And even with an arrangement in place, they are often rejected after death.

It is a genuinely good thing to do but you have to start discussions with the research centres now. They are often inundated with requests and will have specific requirements to meet.