Body Donations Save Families Money

Paying discounted funeral or cremation costs may seem to be an inexpensive alternative to planning an expensive fancy funeral for yourself. However, there is one way to pay less, or nothing at all, if the circumstances are agreeable. How? By donating your body or tissues to medical school or scientific research.

Usually with donated tissues, the cremated remains can be returned to your family within 2-4 weeks if wanted, and the cost is none to under 50 dollars. Whole body donation is available, and depending upon the company or the agreement, the cremated remains can be returned if desired after a time of weeks to two years.

The need for deceased bodies is high due to the continual flow of training medical students and continuing medical research. Diseases that are currently being researched with the body tissues are ALS, Muscular Dystrophy, Alzheimer’s, Arthritis, Cancer, Diabetes, Heart diseases, Osteoporosis, Parkinson’s, Carpal Tunnel and MS. Body donation also helps researchers with the study and treatment of injuries, the development and instruction in the use of and for new surgical equipment, procedures and techniques.

While there is too many facilities to name them all, some of the most well known is Yale University, the Mayo Clinic, Harvard Brain Bank, Duke University, and John Hopkins University. Client requests to be used at specific institutions or specific research can be fulfilled but is not guaranteed.

Almost anyone can donate. There is no maximum age limit. Most health problems is inconsequential, and some is in fact beneficial. Basically, the only people that can’t donate is those over weight by about fifty percent, under 18, infected with HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis C or B, or Tuberculosis. Donations of bodies recently operated on, autopsied, or mutilated may be declined also.

Pre-registration is available at most body and tissue banks. Registration is not a must, but the consent from the next of kin is. Without consent from the next of kin donation is impossible. So donors should discuss with their family about the wish to be donated. This increases the likelihood of having the final wishes respected. The donor should keep a copy in their wallet so that they will be identified as a donor when the time comes.

Registration is not permanent. If the donor decides to, the donor can rescind the request before their death. It is desirable to carry a copy of the rescind statement in the donor’s wallet for future notice.

Thousands donate every year, and the percentage seems to increase every year. However, there has been misuse of organs and tissues in the news lately which have made some future donors reconsider their choice. Donors and their families should understand that this is not an ongoing problem. Laws dictate how and who has access to the donations, and donor banks keep very strict security.

As the amount of body donations grows, so will society’s acceptance. Most religions accept donation as a loving gift to future generations. The Red Cross can help to answer questions about religion and whole body or tissue donating. Prospective donors should investigate and see if this is an acceptable way of paying little or nothing for the end of life services.