Would you donate your body to science?

[bicentennial_baby]

I'm reading the info on donating your body to the U of Tennessee Anthropology Dept...AKA The Body Farm :D

Would you do it? Why or why not?

:hi:

[Taverner]

1. Science, yes. Body farm, no

I want to be plasticized and put on display

[bicentennial_baby]

4. That's pretty cool too

I've been thinking about the Body Farm for years...Closet forensic science geek over here. :D

[SidneyCarton]

30. As its your carcass, it's obviously your decision...

I just couldn't imagine my corpse turned into a somewhat macabre art object to be ogled by the ghoulish. Nevertheless, I can see how this is a form (albeit somewhat unorthodox,) of immortality.

[Taverner]

40. I dunno - I don't think Body Worlds is ghoulish

I think of it more along the lines of "I Sing the Body Electric" meets CSI.

Then again I'm a closet bio-geek.

[SidneyCarton]

43. Fair enough...

Having seen the photos of Body Works, I cannot deny the artistry and fascinating intricacy of the revealed human form. However, my mind never quite gets over the fact that that was once a living, breathing human being, perfectly normal, like the people passing me on the street, and now they are displayed as a curiosity.

Anyhoo, just make sure they display you tastefully.

[Fox Mulder]

2. No.

[bicentennial_baby]

5. Why?

[Fox Mulder]

14. I want my body to go back to the Earth.

And I don't like the thought of people poking, prodding, and examining my dead body.

[SidneyCarton]

22. I agree,

I've considered cremation for that very reason.

[Fox Mulder]

25. I want one of those Eco burials.

[Haole Girl]

3. Yes

Maybe they could find out more answers upon my death than they have while I've been alive!! :hi:

[bicentennial_baby]

6. Ha! Good one!

:hi:

[Chan790]

7. No...

I want an eco-funeral. I've already planned it...it seemed like a good idea to plan something like that.

[bicentennial_baby]

8. What's an eco-funeral?

:)

[Chan790]

18. Burial...

no casket, no preservation, no permanent marker, someplace unspoiled. To nature, from nature...as little unnaturalism as possible.

aka. a "green" funeral. I aspire to rot unimpeded back into nature.

[bicentennial_baby]

23. That's a great idea

Provided you aren't near any groundwater supplies. ;)

[bigwillq]

9. Probably not

Don't really know why though...I just think I should be left the way I am...I am also NOT an organ donor.

[bicentennial_baby]

12. May I ask why?

:)

[bigwillq]

15. I should just be able to rest in peace.

That is why.

[NJmaverick]

10. I imagine it's something you need to speak to your kids or other younger relatives

I would think that sort of decision impacts them, more than it does you.

[bicentennial_baby]

11. How so?

How is it any different than choosing a traditional burial/cremation? In that it's a wholly personal decision.

In any case, I just asked Sniffa, and he said he'd make sure my body gets to TN. :D

[NJmaverick]

27. From what I have read and I also had a great aunt that did donate

her body, it does disrupt the normal flow of things. Often there is no body for the funeral and the loved ones have to live with knowing the body of their family member is in some lab or college or whatever.

I figure once you die, nothing really matter to you any more. You are dead. It's the survivors who are affected by things after that.


If you want to find out more about what happens in this situation you might want to check out the book:

STIFF The Cursious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

If anything else, it's a great book for jury duty (assuming you don't like small talk with strangers). I was reading that book, when I was called. It was fun watching the look of horror on people's faces. They would sit near you, and look at what you were reading, so they could strike up a conversation. Guess they weren't expecting a black book with a bare feet with a toe tag on it.:evilgrin:

[bicentennial_baby]

28. I am SO going to order that!!

w00t! Thank you! :bounce:

Yeah, I would run that by any family members long beforehand. I don't want a traditional funeral/open casket/etc anyway, in any case.

:)

[LeftyMom]

13. I'm an organ donor, I have no problem with students taking a look at whatever's left.

:shrug:

[bicentennial_baby]

16. Same here

And, the Body Farm contributes valuable scientific knowledge for the Forensics community. Win-win. :)

[FloridaJudy]

17. Sure.

I won't be needing it. I've considered the Body Farm, but I wonder if they'd take account of my preference for being eaten by vultures (AKA, a "Sky Burial"). It's the ultimate in recycling - no wasting good land on cemeteries or polluting by cremation. Plus you make a fellow critter happy. I can imagine the birds giving a hearty burp and remarking "My! That one was tasty!"

If I can't find a medical school to co-operate, Florida has one of the few "green cemeteries" in the US.http://www.glendalenaturepreserve.org/. They'll even sell you a nifty coffin that doubles as a book case until you need it for its final purpose.

I probably spend way more time than is healthy thinking about things like that.

[bicentennial_baby]

20. I don't think it's unhealthy

Better to have a curiosity and interest in how you will be "disposed of" than to have an unhealthy fixation on fearing the closing act, eh?

:hi:

[Oeditpus Rex]

19. Absolutely

I've been an organ donor since I was 20. What better legacy than to still be of use, whether directly to others or to medical science, after my soul has migrated?

[bicentennial_baby]

21. That's exactly how I feel

:toast:

[swimboy]

24. I would have to see some photos of science

before I would decide if they could have my body.

I don't know if science is my type.

[bicentennial_baby]

26. I'm still LOLing over your PM the other day...

were you, by chance, intoxicated?

:D

:rofl:

[swimboy]

29. Keyword: Long Island Ice Teas

Key letter: that "s" on the end.

:9

:P

:silly:

:hug:

[bicentennial_baby]

32. I adore you...

:loveya:

:hug:

[terrya]

31. Yes.

If they could have some use of it...harvest my organs or whatever...hell, yes. Better that than having my body just rot in the ground.

[bicentennial_baby]

33. With the Body Farm, you have your organs harvested first at home,

and then you are transported to the Farm. :)

And I agree :)

[terrya]

34. Then that sounds perfect.

I'm an organ donor anyway.

I was planning on being cremated...but if science can get some use out of me... :-)

[bicentennial_baby]

36. here's a link:

http://web.utk.edu/~anthrop/FACdonation.html

There are other ones, but U of TN is the original. :)

[Justpat]

35. No.

I used it up already. :cry:

[SPKrazy]

37. I Did, And They Already Took It

left me with this loaner :grr:

dayum, had a 6 pack abs and everything before, now its more like a keg abs :rofl:

[bicentennial_baby]

38. Uh huh, suuuuuure you did, Rachel Ray

;)

[SPKrazy]

47. Heh,

I'm calling your Rachel with a



:rofl:

[TZ]

39. YES! But probably to someplace like the Mayo Clinic

or Dana Farber Cancer institute, someplace that does research on my chronic illness...Because its a rare illness, resources are limited so, I would be very happy to know that my body could help others like me! I already have donated blood to Dana Farber, and have authorized Mayo to use my health info for research purposes...

[ismnotwasm]

41. As soon as I'm through with it

They're welcome to it.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

42. Sure. They probably need the laughs.

:hi:

edit: Punctation is our friend.

[Nikia]

44. No, I want my family to be able to visit my grave

Especially since I am going to have a child (about halfway through my pregnancy).
A lot times, at least in my family, survivors feel better if they can go someplace to "visit" the deceased.

[bicentennial_baby]

49. I think you can still have a stone/site

Don't see why not, as long as you're willing to pay. :)

[Phillycat]

45. I AM donating my body to science.

All the organs and useful bits get harvested for anyone who could use them, and then the rest gets donated to whoever wants it, probably a medical school. I don't need it for anything. :shrug:

[TZ]

46. Well see, I want to donate to science,

Cause I understand the chronic disorder I have disqualifies me to be an organ/blood donor

[bicentennial_baby]

50. Rock on

:)

[Steven_S]

48. I intend to donate my body for specific research, if they want it....

If they can get even one step closer to finding a cure for ALS it's worth it.

[bicentennial_baby]

51. Hell yes, my friend...I'd like to discuss that with my Mom, but...

It's a tough subject to bring up.

How have you been Steve? :hug:

[Steven_S]

54. I'm having a great summer...

but getting step by step closer to quadriplegia.

[KitchenWitch]

52. Why not, I will no longer be using it.

[femmocrat]

53. No.

I don't even want to be an organ donor. I'm just weird that way, I guess.