The donation of bodies to medical
science anatomy programs is a significant end-of-life legacy. In addition to
enhancing research, donated bodies offer training opportunities that ultimately
benefit public health. People who say they are donating their bodies are often
asked, “Why donate your body? Don’t you
want a funeral, memorial service, or something?” A common belief is that bodies
donated to anatomy programs are dissected, studied, and then “disposed of” in
an uncertain manner. The assumption may be that the entire procedure is
strictly medical and scientific with few displays of gratitude for the donations
and certainly no death rituals of respect for families or persons whose bodies are
donated.
What are some
death ritual options available for those who want to donate their bodies to an
anatomy program? If funeral services are desired with the body present, the
family can contact the funeral home and
make arrangements with the anatomy program before funeral preparations are
made. Another
possibility is to have a memorial service without the donor’s body present.
But a little known fact is that a
number of U.S. anatomy programs hold memorial
ceremonies of gratitude honoring body donors. These final tributes to human lives
are usually planned by students and faculty and include invited guests. Various
U.S. anatomy programs hold nondenominational memorial services that include theme
celebrations with expressions of speech, music, poetry, essays, visual art, and
dance.
Those interested
in donating their bodies to anatomy programs should contact the organizations that
interest them and request information. Some have websites explaining their
procedures. A list of common questions and answers about the body bequest program at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, MI can be viewed. Some answers may
be surprising. For example, age is not a consideration for body donation, but
there are other factors such as not having major organs removed. Also, if the family wishes to have the cremains returned for
burial, the University, if requested at the time of death, will return the
ashes to the family.
The following video features a cadaver memorial service with more
than 300 in attendance. It is presented as part of a long-standing tradition by
first-year medical students at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of
Medicine.
Frances Shani Parker, Author
Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer
in Urban Nursing Homes is available in paperback and e-book
editions in America and other countries at online and offline booksellers.
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