Donating Your Body to Medical Science- What You Need to Know
Donating your body to Medical Science is a truly selfless act. Medical students need a variety of bodies to study and learn from to enable them to become excellent doctors. It’s important to remember that your body will likely be returned many years later, and your family and friends will probably need a way to say goodbye long before then. If you’re interested in arranging a Memorial Service and expressing your wishes in advance, please don’t hesitate to contact me. There are a few things to keep in mind when donating to medical science. Please see below for more information.
Leeds
Hull
Newcastle
Make sure you have a backup plan, as you’ll usually need to be transported very quickly after death. If you die on a weekend or a Bank Holiday, it may not be possible to transport your body in time. They may also not need your body at the time of your death. It’s important to let them know what kind of funeral you’d like:
- Burial
- Cremation
- Water resomation
- Music
- Readings, etc.
Some medical establishments also study how bodies decay in what they call a Body Farm/Field. This science is called taphonomy, which is the study of decay and fossilisation. Why is it important? Because bodies decay differently in different parts of the world. It’s worth speaking to the facility that you choose to see if it’s an option if you’d like to donate your body to this.
There are several reasons why a body might not be accepted for donation to science, including:
Infection: A severe infection, such as HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis, MRSA, or septicaemia
Post-mortem: A coroner's post-mortem is required
Death abroad: The person died abroad
Recent operation: The person had a recent operation and the wound has not healed
Other conditions: The person has Alzheimer's disease or senile dementia of unknown cause, bed sores, varicose ulcers, or oedema
Traumatic injury: The person suffered a traumatic bodily injury at the time of death
Weight: Some medical centres require that the body weigh a certain amount, such as 250 pounds or less
Organ donation: Organs, other than corneas, have been donated for transplantation or research
Medical schools typically only accept donations from within their local area due to transportation costs. However, they may accept donations from outside the area if the donor's estate pays for transportation.
To donate your body to science, you must:
Be at least 17 years old
Make your wishes known in writing and have them witnessed before you die
I would add that you really need to make your wishes known BEFORE your death, so that friends, family, GP etc all know. Carry something in your wallet or purse or on your contacts.
Comments