Cadaver

I offered to leave my body to science, because my wife doesn't want it and they said ditto. C'est la vie, but the dog looks happy.

I hadn't thought of that Whitewave!

It was the solicitor who told me I couldn't donate me to science when we updated our wills. He'd had an application form rejected a few weeks before as they were full up with offers and had a waiting list! It was a couple of years ago now so perhaps things have changed.

That was to Aveline

Yes, I felt the same. It was as though the person had become a wax replica.

nanna8

Was that necessary? Im just about to have tea...

?

ref was to whitewavemark

Was that necessary? Im just about to have tea...

Do they tell you beforehand that they don't need your body, or can they decide once they've had a look at it?

I suppose that you could always request that you are not cremated or buried until you start to smell ??

I thought I would do it too, but don't want to end up all dressed up and no place to go, as it were.

I wanted to leave my body to science as I have this terrible fear of not being properly dead - but was told they didn't want it. They have so many people wanting to do the same as its cheap. Apparently.

Aveline

Like many of us I have seen a close family member shortly after death. Somehow they had just gone. It wasn't them any more. It was a husk. Once I have died I'm not bothered about the body that I will have shed.

Yes it is a tremendous thing to experience - a death of a sentient being.

It is true of humans and animals. Their life force is gone.

I was with mum as she died, and very much felt that.

But it has also been true of all the animals that I have been with at death.

I think life force is so strong. Difficult to explain really.

Like many of us I have seen a close family member shortly after death. Somehow they had just gone. It wasn't them any more. It was a husk. Once I have died I'm not bothered about the body that I will have shed.

My husband and I have both signed up to leave our bodies to medical science. When I'm dead, I'll be unaware of what they are calling my remains .

Both my parents did this, but for some reason only my father’s body was accepted.

Call me what you like, I’ll hardly be in a position to object..?

I donated my body some years ago. That is not me on that slab. Meryl went when my heart stopped beating.
Obviously I have no hang ups with dead bodies.

Well we need to call a spade a spade ? I have left my body to science when I die as a thank you for the treatment I have had all my life on the NHS... I will be dead and I won't be concerned what I am called.

Zoejory

HI Caleo, I can give you some reassuring words with regard to how your body is dealt with . My son and daughter in law have both been through this on their way to becoming doctors. Just after 3 weeks at university they were confronted with their body that they would work with for at least a year.

I did ask questions about how they and their peers were coping and I can assure you the level of respect you'd wish for is there. The bodies, (cadavers to the scientists) are treated very well and gratitude towards the donors is great.

My medical family members went to the local Cathedral for a memorial service for the families of the donors once that part of their learning was done.

I can agree, my daughter was a medical student a long time ago and her ‘cadaver’ was one of the most important people in her training. They kept the same one for quite a while and whoever it was became part of that group.

My dd has just qualified as a medic. She said they are extremely grateful to their body donors. The uni holds a service at the end of the two years (I think) that the bodies are used, to which relatives are also invited, if they wish. Some family do, some don’t. She said it was a very moving ceremony.

"You won’t know though will you what they call you"

Absolutely not, BlueBelle. I live my life looking to the future and once I am dead I will be powerless .

Thank you Zoejory your reply is specifically reassuring.

Riverwalk, I myself knew me in life, and I will be there as my lifeless body when I am dissected. I have a lot of respect for the lifeless physical world and that is where I am coming from.

You won’t know though will you what they call you

My medical family members went to the local Cathedral for a memorial service for the families of the donors once that part of their learning was done.

I find that very respectful Zoejory