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Original poster

Would you donate your body to science?

49 replies

Balloondog · 04/06/2018 22:04

Just pondering this as I update my will. I've been on the organ donor list since I was 18 and I understand you can only donate your body to science as a cadaver if you have not had any organs used for donation (or if you've had a post-mortem) so chances are it won't happen anyway but I'd like it to be an option.

DH thinks I'm out of my mind and can't think of anything worse (though he won't even consider cremation over burial as he thinks it's unnatural so I probably could have seen that coming!).

So would you donate your body to science or do you find the idea too strange?

OP posts:
megletthesecond · 04/06/2018 22:06

Yes.
Apparently Oxford uni take bodies from where I live. I need to get my act together and formalise it in my will.

Sparklingbrook · 04/06/2018 22:08

I wouldn't. My Mum and Dad have all the papers signed because they want to but I can't help thinking when the time comes the University/Hospital might not want them.

Cadencia · 04/06/2018 22:08

My mum has told me that she would like to do this and I think it’s a great idea.

www.hta.gov.uk/donating-your-body

Vitalogy · 04/06/2018 22:10

I would yes. I mentioned it to my son that I was thinking about it, he wasn't keen on the idea though.

Shenanagins · 04/06/2018 22:17

I contemplated it but decided that I’d rather my organs were used for donation. Although I should check whether if that would be an alternative should my organs not be suitable for donation.

Cadencia · 04/06/2018 22:20

Shenanigans, it’s possible to sign up for both and the body donation can take place if the organs haven’t been donated. See my link above.

Shenanagins · 04/06/2018 22:28

Thank you for highlighting this as it is something I do feel strongly about.

UnimaginativeUsername · 04/06/2018 22:31

Yes. I read about this on a news site today and decided to download the forms from my local medical school. I need to update my will (due to the end of a relationship and moving house) so it’s the perfect time to do it.

Original poster
Balloondog · 05/06/2018 11:33

It's interesting to see how many are for this given that it's not something I'd ever heard discussed before.

OP posts:
kitkatsky · 05/06/2018 19:50

I'd never even considered it until current DP who really wants to do this, but personally I'd rather donate organs if any of them are any good. Just like when I give blood I hope it's used to save Lives rather than research, even tho neither of those opinions really make sense!

DereksGotATail · 05/06/2018 19:57

My friend's mum recently passed away and left her body to science. Our local university doesn't require any bodies at the moment so she ended up making calls to various other universities until she found one that could take her.
She had a ceremony to mark her passing but the university will contact her down the line when they have finished with her. It's this bit that bothers me, as it could resurface those feelings of grief a year or two later.
I'm not sure how I feel about it really.

wonkylegs · 05/06/2018 20:05

DHs grandfather did this, we had a family party in lieu of a funeral and the university did a special service after cremation where we were invited.

Since then I have considered it as frankly I have no use for it once I'm gone and thanks to a lifelong disease and the treatment for it I am unlikely to be much of an organ donor (although I am currently registered as one)

I will probably look at it again when we redo our wills next year

Chocadoodledoo · 05/06/2018 20:12

My grandmother offered her body - they declined 😏
She is still living but the outcome caused amusement, although we think she may have been a bit miffed. however no one questioned her offering. As she says “it’s no use to her after she’s gone and if it’s some help to someone....” she has a point.

GinIsIn · 05/06/2018 20:13

Yes, if I can’t donate my organs.

MnerXX · 05/06/2018 20:19

I have been wondering about this since someone mentioned it on the funeral director’s thread. It’s the first time I’ve ever really considered it as an option.

As someone who has had a blood transfusion, it is unclear on the organ donation website as to whether I would be able to donate my organs.

AuntMae · 05/06/2018 20:24

My DH submitted the forms a few years ago to donate his body to science. I don't have an issue with it, although would rather donate my organs instead. We're both clear on each others wishes although I should probably update our wills/tell my parents just in case.

Original poster
Balloondog · 06/06/2018 13:21

@AuntMae One thing I discovered when looking into this is that the person themselves must have legally declared their wish ie. in a written will before death. It's not a decision that your next of kin can make posthumously for you - worth considering if you already know each other's wishes but haven't got it in writing as otherwise you wouldn't be able to carry out those wishes.

OP posts:
AuntMae · 06/06/2018 17:28

@Balloondog My DH submitted all the paperwork to our local medical school a couple of years ago so it's already done. It's not an argument I want to have with my super religious MIL when the time comes so I'm glad it's done this way although I'm sure she will still blame me Hmm

Dyrne · 06/06/2018 17:41

This thread is interesting, I hadn’t realised it was an agreement with a specific local hospital. I always thought about donating my body to science if I couldn’t donate organs; but watching the Obesity autopsy on BBC3 massively put me off - the woman there had donated her body to science; but the thought of my body ending up on TV for everyone to exclaim how fat I am horrified me! If I could guarantee that I wouldn’t be paraded on TV as entertainment masked as ‘education’, i’d go for it. I think I need to look into it again

RaininSummer · 06/06/2018 17:43

Yes, I would I think. It is vital that our trainees medics have real bodies to learn from. Have just downloaded a form having read this thread.

PerkingFaintly · 06/06/2018 17:49

I would love to do this.

When I made a will, the solicitor advised me there was lots of paperwork but I'd like to anyway. I can't give blood and my organs wouldn't be accepted as donations to the living, so this seems like the best way to help.

Oddcat · 06/06/2018 17:53

My dad has done this. Apparently it's quite hard work for the relatives once the person has died . They have to hunt round for somewhere to take the body and then when they've finished THEY SEND THE BITS BACK TO YOU !!!!

I now have images of having a 'sorry we missed you' from UPS or whoever and me having to go to the depot to collect my dad Grin

RaininSummer · 06/06/2018 20:51

The one I read, Bristol uni, said they cremated remains but it could be as long as three years after death.

MaMisled · 06/06/2018 20:54

I knew someone who was signed up for this. She'd been told that if she died at the weekend there probably wouldn't be anyone available to collect her. She said "if I die on a weekend, could you hide my body until Monday!" She passed away on a Tuesday but they declined her remains anyway.

tenredthings · 06/06/2018 20:55

It saves on funeral costs so could be a last supportive gesture to your family as even the simplest funerals cost £££

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