They Want My Body

Tuesday, September 15, 2009
I've been listening to an audio book called Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, by Mary Roach. From the author's website:
For 2,000 years, cadavers -- some willingly, some unwittingly -- have been involved in science's boldest strides and weirdest undertakings. Stiff is an oddly compelling, often hilarious exploration of the strange lives of our bodies postmortem.
I have been THOROUGHLY enjoying this book. The author approaches the subject with gentle humor, and gives detailed accounts of what actually happens to bodies that are donated to science, covering forensic science, anatomy, surgery practice, transportation safety tests, body armor design, organ donation and more.

I have long wanted to donate my body to science once I'm done with it, and Ms. Roach's graphic descriptions of what actually occurs ("segmentation and disarticulation,” anyone?) has actually reinforced this desire. Yes, I'm a bit strange, but the things science and engineering can learn about how to better serve our human bodies through work with cadavers is simply amazing. I've always been an organ donor, and that is still my first choice for my body once I'm done with it. I can't imagine a better use for my pieces and parts than to extend the life of someone else.

But if they're not usable due to age or disease, I'm totally doing the next best thing - donating the whole kit and kaboodle to whomever it will serve. Gross anatomy lab, surgical practice, crash test dummy - whatever's needed. The idea that my "earthly remains" will be used to possibly extend the life or protect the body of someone else, or to train someone to do the same, gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling. Go, cadaver!

I've found several organizations who will handle the donation (including returning partial cremains to my family if they wish) at no cost to my estate, which is pretty cool. I want to get all the paperwork done prior to my death - that way my Smart Family don't have to deal with any of it, and my wishes are on record. That's a double win, as far as I'm concerned.

7 comments:

Steve Buchheit said...

Body armor design? Only if they put a sign on me, "You'll never take me alive, coppers!"

Janiece said...

Tee hee.

I think I would actually prefer my cadaver be used for military armor research, but I don't think you get a choice.

Carol Elaine said...

I've been thinking lately about what to do with my body when I kick it (in about 80 years - I plan on sticking around until I'm 120). I know I don't want to be stuck in the ground and have wondered about being cremated and used for fertilizer, once any usable organs have been harvested. I like the idea of donating what's left to science - I'll have to check out that book!

Random Michelle K said...

I really enjoyed Stiff.

Spook wasn't quite as good, but I hope Bonk (if I ever get around to buying it) is as good.

Can I also recommend "Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation"?

WendyB_09 said...

BFF's father died a few years back and did that very thing. He wanted the med students at the teaching hospital treating him to learn about the nasty form of cancer he had in the hope that maybe they could learn to identify it sooner.

His cremains are now with his widow in a box in her closet until she moves later this fall. That has been the subject of many jokes, but she just hasn't found an urn or other decorative object she likes yet.

Tania said...

One of the things I did at FMH was find a company that would take bodies up from up here without the family of the deceased having to pay for it. Wrangled up all the contact information, web sites, etc. so that the social workers would have it on hand when patients expressed an interest.

I actually feel rather proud about that contribution.

I'll be dead. If they can use any tissues for organ donation, excellent. Otherwise, let me contribute to advancing knowledge.

Janiece said...

Tania, that is cool.