For those interested in body donation to medical science...

[arther dailey]

Happy to speak with you if want to share my experience

Biggest hurdle was to manage the cultural / family expectation of a “normal “ funeral. Mum won’t have one of those

Her reasons are that she wants the medical world to understand her ailments so others don’t have to suffer

interesting in a lot of respects , I have thought on donating organs , especially eyes as mum went blind due to disease so if I could benefit someone who would otherwise go through what mum did I think it worth while. You say your mum wanted them to understand her ailments does that mean they will acually do a thorough study and report on their findings ? hope you dont mind me asking , presume obviously organs are checked before ddonation . thanks and please pass on thanks to your mum for her kindness.

 

[cheb]

One of the things that the medical schools stress is the dignity which which your remains will be treated. Very laudable and understandable, but mildly disappointing. It wouldn't bother me a jot if my skull was used as a drinking cup.

A close relative asked the crem manager, with a straight face, if they had any short notice cancellations when organising their spouse's burial.

 

[Mark 5]

Not against it in anyway but not for me, anyway I'm not sure I have anything healthy to donate medically, even as a corpse.

I still have memories of American body farms, that was enough.

 

[cheb]

Sue Black writes well about the subject, as you'd expect.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Not against it in anyway but not for me, anyway I'm not sure I have anything healthy to donate medically, even as a corpse.

Surely that is a matter for the medical school? Even basic dissection would be an option for something with no other use? They have to start somewhere.

I still have memories of American body farms, that was enough.

I am not fond of American practices in many things (especially the language) but that doesn't colour my opinions about what we do here.

 

[Cobbler]

One thing that was insisted on with my father was that the body was complete. What we didn’t tell them was he had a testicle removed some years earlier. I had this vision of the dissection at medical school “right today students we will dissect the left testicle” “errr please sir, we have a problem “

 

[ajlelectronics]

One thing that was insisted on with my father was that the body was complete. What we didn’t tell them was he had a testicle removed some years earlier. I had this vision of the dissection at medical school “right today students we will dissect the left testicle” “errr please sir, we have a problem “

Has someone dropped a b... ?

 

[Morrisman]

On the DVLA site now when you go through the online license renewal it asks if you are prepared to be an organ donor, which I think is a good thing.

I’ve been an organ donor since I got my first driving license, always carried the card in my wallet. I think it’s all recorded on the interweb now for easy access, just in case….

But I also have my phone Home Screen…

 

[Morrisman]

Who's miserable? Miserable is watching someone die slowly and painfully knowing that it's illegal to help them end it.

And yes I am aware of the short tempered thread. It's why I've stopped posting as much. There's plenty on here that could be considered idiots, amazing isn't it.

I’m also a member of Dignity in Dying, and have been for several years.

Dignity in Dying - Join the campaign

Dying people are taking their own lives here and abroad. The current law offers them no protection or support. Join us and help change the law.

www.dignityindying.org.uk

 

[Smallfry]

When I last looked at this years ago it was down to the family to pay for & dispose of what was left after the cadaver had been harvested /researched .
Now both of us have paid for a Pure cremation we have asked for any bits of use to be removed for research before our body is burnt .

Next Thursday suit you sir ?

I am considering the same thing.

 

[jimbo84]

Didn't they change organ donation laws/regs recently to say that you now have to opt out of donating otherwise it is automatically assumed you will donate? Which is how it should be in my opinion.

 

[Smallfry]

I think definition of misery is watching any episode of "Friends".

Or any American comedy series really.

 

[ajlelectronics]

American comedy

An oxymoron, surely?

 

[Parm]

interesting in a lot of respects , I have thought on donating organs , especially eyes as mum went blind due to disease so if I could benefit someone who would otherwise go through what mum did I think it worth while. You say your mum wanted them to understand her ailments does that mean they will acually do a thorough study and report on their findings ? hope you dont mind me asking , presume obviously organs are checked before ddonation . thanks and please pass on thanks to your mum for her kindness.

She is donating her body to Leicester Uni medical school where the students can study her body and anatomy. I suspect she will be a medical cadaver for research and education

 

[Smallfry]

I am a card carrying organ donor, and like the idea of the medical research thing, but don't like the idea of someone getting a call further down the line regarding collecting the putrid remains and getting billed as well.

I have concerns about Pure Cremation and similar, regarding what happens if the go bust in the future, or the Directors have done a bunk with the money, rather like the Christmas hampers thing a few years ago.

What I would really like, (SWMBO too) is after being stripped of anything worthwhile, is to buried in our field at the back of the house alongside the pets.

Incineration of course, is more practical.

What will happen to cemeteries though ? Who amongst us has not wandered among the headstones, many long forgotten and neglected, and had some quiet reverie, and wondered about the lives of those strangers long departed ?

 

[Dev]

What I would really like, (SWMBO too) is after being stripped of anything worthwhile, is to buried in our field at the back of the house alongside the pets

Or go the other way, be buried with a mishmash of antiques to confuse future archiologists

 

[fizzy]

Or go the other way, be buried with a mishmash of antiques to confuse future archiologists

Yes I want to be buried with my lathes, milling machines and surface grinders

 

[cheb]

I don't like the automatic opt in for organ donation. It's far too close to the state deciding that they own you. Informed consent is much more important in these things.

 

[Mark 5]

Surely that is a matter for the medical school? Even basic dissection would be an option for something with no other use? They have to start somewhere.



I am not fond of American practices in many things (especially the language) but that doesn't colour my opinions about what we do here.

Those are fair points you make.

 

[DAPPH]

My father in law has done similar, click and collect he calls it, becoming far more common now due to costs. Not sure how it will affect the grieving process for those left behind as theres no final goodbye etc.

In the bbc news recently there was an article about this in the Netherlands, I was quite surprised by the numbers/ percentage. A very emotive subject, however youd not treat a dying pet the way some folk are treated.

Duo euthanasia: Why a happily married couple decided to die together

Jan and Els sought medical intervention to end their lives after 50 happy years of marriage.

www.bbc.co.uk

My brother who died a few weeks after my eldesst brother went the no fuss funeral path . . For me and my sister it was just another day in our lives no weeping or gnashing of teeth sack cloth or ashes or sad memories .

In fact I'd go as far to say it was so much more dignified not being in the presence of highly emotional people in the rest of the family & not having to drive 250 mile to come back home in an emotional mind wandering state. . We met up as a family a year later ..most of us agreed it was what we are all going to do . This has also included several nephews & nieces . Halina his wife seems to have handled things a lot better than most bereaved people I know.