Would you donate your body to science?

**zoedragon** · 11-10-04, 09:39 AM

Inspired by the morgue thread, here's a question I pose to you: Would you donate your body to science? This is different from donating your organs to those who need transplants. People who donate their bodies to science are allowing their bodies to be used as cadavers for med students.

I believe this also includes experiments that require a human corpse. I saw an episode of CSI where they came upon a "body farm" where human bodies were placed in various environments (under water, hanging in the air, half-buried, etc.) in order to observe the rates of decomposition and other effects. With this in mind, would you still want to donate your body to science?

socio13 · 11-10-04, 11:50 AM

Hell no. I will donate my organs, but not to donate my body so med students can play around my body.

***Admin*** · 11-10-04, 12:48 PM

I second to "hell no." I'm sure there are enough bodies out there for science and biology. Would you?

**zoedragon** · 11-10-04, 12:56 PM

I think I would. If I'm dead and gone, my body is gonna rot anyway, so it may as well rot (or be disassembled) in the interests of furthering human knowledge. I never saw the point of cemetaries. Once you're gone, your body is a useless shell. Whether you go to heaven, hell, nowhere or get reincarnated, that body is no longer useable for you. I like helping people. So if I can still somehow help people after I've passed on, then that's what I'll do. I'm not ever going to be aware of what's happening to it, so what's the harm?

***Admin*** · 11-10-04, 01:03 PM

But how would the parents react if they find out that their own son or daughter is donating their body to some "laboratory" where they will slice and dice the body.

**zoedragon** · 11-10-04, 01:14 PM

Perhaps a little chat about intentions would help clear things up. Are you of the opinion that once you're gone your body belongs to your family?

***Admin*** · 11-10-04, 01:49 PM

Not really. Being buried is one of the traditions that many families value I guess.

BTW, did anyone paste that little sticker in your California driver license? That sticker gives the DMV permission to donate your organs and other relevant parts (from the dead body after the car accident) to hospitals.

**zoedragon** · 11-10-04, 01:51 PM

I used to put that sticker on. Then someone told me that if you do so the doctors won't try as hard to make you live because they want your organs. I want to donate my organs, but not at the possible cost of my own life. Is this just a rumor or is there truth to it?

Steven · 11-10-04, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoedragon

Inspired by the morgue thread, here's a question I pose to you: Would you donate your body to science? This is different from donating your organs to those who need transplants. People who donate their bodies to science are allowing their bodies to be used as cadavers for med students.

I believe this also includes experiments that require a human corpse. I saw an episode of CSI where they came upon a "body farm" where human bodies were placed in various environments (under water, hanging in the air, half-buried, etc.) in order to observe the rates of decomposition and other effects. With this in mind, would you still want to donate your body to science?

Perhaps, if cyronics is not viable in the near future. If the choice is between burial and donation, then I would choose donation.

**PandaMoOo** · 11-10-04, 02:19 PM

Cyronics... I think will be a bust. I'm no scienctist... but the whole concept seems relatively foreign. I mean... the thing we're ultimately trying to protect are the neuron connections in the brain that make up our pesonality, thoughts, memory. All that seems rather delicate to feezing to me.

I'm starting to think stem cells will offer some longevity solution... theortically stem cells are 'blank cells' that can do anything, what better way to get a new heart then to get new cells? But... i'm very uneducated on the subject, except enough to be curious.

I am donating my organs. I heard the rumor about the sticker and doctors not wanting to save your life... but if a doctor ever has to try that hard, I may not be so inclined to live. I'm undecided about having my body worked on by science... leaning towards yes.

Steven · 11-10-04, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PandaMoOo

Cyronics... I think will be a bust. I'm no scienctist... but the whole concept seems relatively foreign. I mean... the thing we're ultimately trying to protect are the neuron connections in the brain that make up our pesonality, thoughts, memory. All that seems rather delicate to feezing to me.

I suppose that would be the case if you just stuck a person in a freezer. But that is not the type of technique I was refering to. Some animals, such as the Wood Frog, regularly freeze, thaw out, and survive. If this or something similar to it were to be implemented in humans, crynoics may become viable.

Puffguts · 11-10-04, 05:06 PM

I would donate my body for advancement of science, or serve as playground for medical students.

However I do not want to be part of the nation-wide organ-donation program. I heard a report on the National Public News (the radio sibling of PBS) that a doctor was sued for wrongful death when he pronounced a patient dead on arrival (zero heart-beat activity), then proceeded to take out the person's kidneys. The county coroner later examined the body and concluded the patient's death was actually caused by the removal of vital organs, despite the fact that the patient's heart had stopped beating and would likely to have died anyways.

A negative example of organ extraction would be the practice of extracting organs from executed prisoners in China (it is an extreme example of the controversy, but worth bringing up anyways). A large number of "donated organs" in China are extracted from dead prisoners right after their execution. The most common method of execution is death by shooting squad (there are death by lethal injections, but it would often destroy organs as well). Behind the execution fields there are often scores of hospital vans waiting. As soon as the executions are performed and the prisoner was pronounced dead (the method is to use a needle to probe a region of sensitivity at the very edge of frontal lobe of the brain. If the brain is not dead, the person would involuntarily twitch and the execution squad would put couple more bullets into the heart, due to the law forbid taking organ from a live person, I think), the medical crew would drive up and take the bodies into the operation vans, and extract whatever that is needed.

Back to the States. What if a doctor is ethically questionable? What if the doctor believes so strongly in organ donation that some safety guidelines are omitted due to the passion to obtain new organs clouded the physicians' judgement?

I would support donating my body for medical research / get chopped up by future-doctors-in-learning, but I would not sign up for organ donations and cause doctors having subconscious second-thoughts about saving my life.

**zoedragon** · 11-10-04, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Puffguts

If the brain is not dead, the person would involuntarily twitch and the execution squad would put couple more bullets into the heart, due to the law forbid taking organ from a live person, I think), the medical crew would drive up and take the bodies into the operation vans, and extract whatever that is needed.

I would think death by firing squad would turn most of the organs into swiss cheese. But I guess if the prisoner was going to die anyway, might as well put some of those organs to good use. On the other hand, I can easily see high-ranking officials being bribed to put a prisoner to death for the sole purpose of harvesting the organs (they would never admit it of course, the prisoner would just suddenly be declared "dangerous").

**PandaMoOo** · 11-11-04, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven

I suppose that would be the case if you just stuck a person in a freezer. But that is not the type of technique I was refering to. Some animals, such as the Wood Frog, regularly freeze, thaw out, and survive. If this or something similar to it were to be implemented in humans, crynoics may become viable.

Aye. I heard of that, but I believe the frog uses a special chemical inside its cells to prevent them from breaking. So... current cyrnoics people would be doomed :-x

**zoedragon** · 11-11-04, 09:44 AM

Cryonics research then would most likely be focusing on duplicating this chemical and getting it to work on people. Who wants to volunteer?

I'll volunteer when I'm dead and not a second before.

Steven · 11-11-04, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PandaMoOo

Aye. I heard of that, but I believe the frog uses a special chemical inside its cells to prevent them from breaking. So... current cyrnoics people would be doomed :-x

Possibly, but they aren't losing anything since they are already dead.

I have read that chemicals are pumped into the patient's blood before they are frozen. The chemicals prevent ice formation. Thus preventing cells from bursting.

Steven · 11-11-04, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoedragon

Cryonics research then would most likely be focusing on duplicating this chemical and getting it to work on people.

I think that this is the case. It should be since dying people only have a limited amount of time to wait, while frozen people can wait indefinitely for a procedure that will revive them.

Ketcham82 · 11-13-04, 10:43 PM

perhaps this might change your mind....

http://www.newstarget.com/000974.html

Steven · 11-14-04, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ketcham82

perhaps this might change your mind....

http://www.newstarget.com/000974.html

Not really. Profit is good and saving a life is good. I suppose you can try having your family sell your organs themselves if you feel strongly about them receiving the profit.

JPWRana · 11-14-04, 03:03 PM

i would sell my organs. you can make top dollar for that... if im gonna be dead, what would i care. atleast let my family make some $$$ off of my death.

11-10-04, 09:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
zoedragon Fire-breather Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Inglewood, CA Posts: 668	Would you donate your body to science? Inspired by the morgue thread, here's a question I pose to you: Would you donate your body to science? This is different from donating your organs to those who need transplants. People who donate their bodies to science are allowing their bodies to be used as cadavers for med students. I believe this also includes experiments that require a human corpse. I saw an episode of CSI where they came upon a "body farm" where human bodies were placed in various environments (under water, hanging in the air, half-buried, etc.) in order to observe the rates of decomposition and other effects. With this in mind, would you still want to donate your body to science? __________________ - Affordable website design found here -

11-10-04, 11:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
socio13 Active Member Joined: Dec 2003 Location: 91762 Posts: 128	Hell no. I will donate my organs, but not to donate my body so med students can play around my body. __________________ Failure is not an option - it is a privilege reserved for those who do not try hard enough.

11-10-04, 12:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
*Admin* Think About It Joined: Sep 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4,946	I second to "hell no." I'm sure there are enough bodies out there for science and biology. Would you? __________________ Cal Poly Forums

11-10-04, 12:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
zoedragon Fire-breather Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Inglewood, CA Posts: 668	I think I would. If I'm dead and gone, my body is gonna rot anyway, so it may as well rot (or be disassembled) in the interests of furthering human knowledge. I never saw the point of cemetaries. Once you're gone, your body is a useless shell. Whether you go to heaven, hell, nowhere or get reincarnated, that body is no longer useable for you. I like helping people. So if I can still somehow help people after I've passed on, then that's what I'll do. I'm not ever going to be aware of what's happening to it, so what's the harm? __________________ - Affordable website design found here -

11-10-04, 01:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
zoedragon Fire-breather Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Inglewood, CA Posts: 668	Perhaps a little chat about intentions would help clear things up. Are you of the opinion that once you're gone your body belongs to your family? __________________ - Affordable website design found here -

11-10-04, 01:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
*Admin* Think About It Joined: Sep 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4,946	But how would the parents react if they find out that their own son or daughter is donating their body to some "laboratory" where they will slice and dice the body.

11-10-04, 01:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
*Admin* Think About It Joined: Sep 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4,946	Not really. Being buried is one of the traditions that many families value I guess. BTW, did anyone paste that little sticker in your California driver license? That sticker gives the DMV permission to donate your organs and other relevant parts (from the dead body after the car accident) to hospitals.

11-10-04, 01:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
zoedragon Fire-breather Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Inglewood, CA Posts: 668	I used to put that sticker on. Then someone told me that if you do so the doctors won't try as hard to make you live because they want your organs. I want to donate my organs, but not at the possible cost of my own life. Is this just a rumor or is there truth to it? __________________ - Affordable website design found here -

11-10-04, 02:19 PM	#10 (permalink)
PandaMoOo GCP.com Admin Joined: Aug 2004 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 401	Cyronics... I think will be a bust. I'm no scienctist... but the whole concept seems relatively foreign. I mean... the thing we're ultimately trying to protect are the neuron connections in the brain that make up our pesonality, thoughts, memory. All that seems rather delicate to feezing to me. I'm starting to think stem cells will offer some longevity solution... theortically stem cells are 'blank cells' that can do anything, what better way to get a new heart then to get new cells? But... i'm very uneducated on the subject, except enough to be curious. I am donating my organs. I heard the rumor about the sticker and doctors not wanting to save your life... but if a doctor ever has to try that hard, I may not be so inclined to live. I'm undecided about having my body worked on by science... leaning towards yes. __________________ -PandaMoOo- www.GradeCalPoly.com

11-10-04, 05:06 PM	#12 (permalink)
Puffguts Active Member Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Chino Hills Posts: 140	I would donate my body for advancement of science, or serve as playground for medical students. However I do not want to be part of the nation-wide organ-donation program. I heard a report on the National Public News (the radio sibling of PBS) that a doctor was sued for wrongful death when he pronounced a patient dead on arrival (zero heart-beat activity), then proceeded to take out the person's kidneys. The county coroner later examined the body and concluded the patient's death was actually caused by the removal of vital organs, despite the fact that the patient's heart had stopped beating and would likely to have died anyways. A negative example of organ extraction would be the practice of extracting organs from executed prisoners in China (it is an extreme example of the controversy, but worth bringing up anyways). A large number of "donated organs" in China are extracted from dead prisoners right after their execution. The most common method of execution is death by shooting squad (there are death by lethal injections, but it would often destroy organs as well). Behind the execution fields there are often scores of hospital vans waiting. As soon as the executions are performed and the prisoner was pronounced dead (the method is to use a needle to probe a region of sensitivity at the very edge of frontal lobe of the brain. If the brain is not dead, the person would involuntarily twitch and the execution squad would put couple more bullets into the heart, due to the law forbid taking organ from a live person, I think), the medical crew would drive up and take the bodies into the operation vans, and extract whatever that is needed. Back to the States. What if a doctor is ethically questionable? What if the doctor believes so strongly in organ donation that some safety guidelines are omitted due to the passion to obtain new organs clouded the physicians' judgement? I would support donating my body for medical research / get chopped up by future-doctors-in-learning, but I would not sign up for organ donations and cause doctors having subconscious second-thoughts about saving my life.

11-11-04, 09:44 AM	#15 (permalink)
zoedragon Fire-breather Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Inglewood, CA Posts: 668	Cryonics research then would most likely be focusing on duplicating this chemical and getting it to work on people. Who wants to volunteer? I'll volunteer when I'm dead and not a second before. __________________ - Affordable website design found here -

11-13-04, 10:43 PM	#18 (permalink)
Ketcham82 Enthusiast Joined: Dec 2003 Location: Covina Posts: 188	perhaps this might change your mind.... http://www.newstarget.com/000974.html

11-14-04, 03:03 PM	#20 (permalink)
JPWRana Guru Joined: Oct 2003 Location: where the 605 and 10 fwy's cross Posts: 883	i would sell my organs. you can make top dollar for that... if im gonna be dead, what would i care. atleast let my family make some $$$ off of my death.

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