Donating your body to science was perhaps once something few people seriously considered as a valid end-of-life option. But recent times have changed this. Why? Whole body donation has a new kudos as the 'humanitarian' means of disposition. What could be better than bringing 'life from death'? Organizations in the U.S. that offer whole body donation, such as Biogift, accept anatomical donations as a final "gift". Leaving your body to science is helping educate future generations, and make medical breakthroughs. The 'Body Worlds' exhibition has traveled the globe, showcasing how the human body can be studied, and how anatomical research has an important role in understanding our own evolution. The exhibition has done much to remove some of the stigma previously associated with anatomical donation. Mind you a changing ethos making a donation to science an altruistic choice such as this, is not the only cause for why we are now looking to this mode of disposition.
Another significant factor in the popularity of body donation is one of cost. Times have changed and people are no longer so particular about the elaborate, expensive funeral, in fact they are more interested in the simple, low cost alternative. Body donation not only offers a simple 'no-fuss' alternative, it can be a virtually cost-free alternative. The 'Baby Boomer' generation has perhaps been the first generation to really resist 'tradition', in all their life choices, but most notably in how they are changing the tradition and ritual of death. Trends in the death care business are in flux, and the industry is slowly responding. Cremation is on the increase, as are other alternative disposition choices. There has always been a need for cadavers by medical and research institutions, but their means of communicating this had maybe been limited. Now a number of companies have emerged in response to this change in the death care industry.
If a body is acceptable for body donation, (as there are certain criteria and guidelines pertaining to bodies that can be accepted into a whole body donation program), then you will find that all is taken care of in a dignified, minimal fuss way. The body is collected and transported to the donation facility, and after certain medical checks are performed body tissues will be matched with needs from medical institutions. All tissues are recovered for cremation and the ashes returned to the family or next-of-kin within 3-4 weeks. In most cases this is without any cost to the family, although some organizations may charge dependent upon the transportation required to collect the deceased. If requested, the body donation organization may even follow up by providing the family with information about the donation and so make the act of donating to medical science complete.
So, if you are looking for just about the cheapest, if not free, disposition on offer today; and if you feel that your last fitting legacy could be one of giving to humankind, then donating your body to science could be the choice for you.
To find out more about body donation visit US Funerals Online.
