Should You Or Should You Not Donate.......

[J_trustno1]

Your body after death???

I've always wondered if it is necessary to do so?

Well, yes it can help someone who is suffering from your donation but then what about the way your body is treated once you're dead? The way they throw you around? The way they skin you etc etc?? Don't want to be a guinea pig in a scientific lab.

I'm confused on this because I haven't decided yet what to do with my body after I die. I don't want people disrespecting or treating my body like junk once I'm dead. I've always treated my body like a temple, never abused my body, no addictions, no self harm except suicidal ideation only when severely depressed and I'm a clean freak. I've always had the pride in being in my body but the thought of what to do after death is kinda scary and I'm not sure...

What are your thoughts? I know a lot will say, you won't feel what happens to your body but still I want to know others thoughts on this?

 

[shimmerz]

I have this weird thing about my body after death. For some reason I absolutely cannot do cremation. The thought of it just makes my skin crawl. I absolutely cannot donate either, which is odd for me because I am typically a really truly good sharer. Not sure if this is a trauma thing or not but it really goes against my 'normal self'.

 

[Friday]

At least in the States you can choose at least what general area your body is donated to (med student cadaver, criminology research, med research, & organ donation are all vastly different areas, and also not the only ones available).

Regardless of how well you treat your body while living... Unless you choose to burn it to char or have the presence of mind to die in a glacier... Your body will be rapidly turning into a noxious sludge of insects, parasites, gas, and goo. Embalming slows the process down, but otherwise, within just a few days, you'll be a bloated puddle of rot sliding off of some really stank bones. Not a lot of dignity inherent in death.

 

[J_trustno1]

I am exactly the same as you @shimmerz. I don't want to cremate although my culture and family's religion believe in cremation. I was thinking about burial but then again it feels suffocating because you are locked up in a box and ground. I really want to be left outside because it'll let my body breathe and I won't feel clusterophobic. I want to feel free after death other than my body being tortured or put into a congested space. I'd rather have birds and animals eating my flesh than any of the options above. Idk, it's just scary.

 

[scout86]

My own theory is, once I'm done with it, I really don't care what happens to it, but it would be cool if someone else could get some use out of it.

The idea of a Viking funeral has always been kind of appealing, but I hear it may not be legal in many places......

 

[shimmerz]

but I hear it may not be legal in many places......

:laugh::roflmao::hilarious:

 

[Kintsugi]

I wish the US had one of those cremation places that generates power. That would be a double win for me.

The most romantic death idea I have would be one that would take some serious planning. Apparently tree roots can mummify a body. Now THAT's preservation.

Seriously, though, mummification would be great, because it could contribute to science in the distant future. Now to find someone who would mummify my body... :cautious:

 

[Sighs]

My usual response is - whatever costs the least is fine with me.

Having said that - I'm happy to donate organs like heart, lung, etc but just can't quite stomach donating my face or hands. Not sure why - just grosses me out. So I guess donating the whole shebang is a no for me.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I am going to be cremated because I could not be locked in a coffin underground so I have already made my burial arrangements.

I am undecided about being a donor but that would be such a gift for someone.

My husband and my son were cremated.

My in laws were embalmed and put in coffins in a mausoleum. It smells so bad in there. I just cannot stand the thought of my body rotting.

I realize that this does not help you at all and I am sorry about this. I rather like the idea of a Viking funeral myself.

Death is such a taboo subject in our society. When my son and my husband died, my friends really did not want to talk to me about it but wanted me to move on in spite of my grief. I was a basket case.

Mabe you could call a Mortuary and see if they have any suggestions for you that you feel comfortable with.

 

[LuckyDuck]

Well I for one don't have a problem donating anything, but looking at myself, I'd probably be the poster child for "this is what happens to your body when (insert whatever screwed up your body)".

That and make sure I'm gone. We're pretty damn good at telling that nowadays but it's always good to be extra safe in that instance.

Fast forward to 3:00 minutes in. This is Karl Pilkington's view on the subject. Probably not very accurate, but definitely in good humor.

LD

 

[desiderata310]

Have a nurse friend who assured me that When you initially die, should you chose to donate organs, they actually treat your body with a great deal of respect. Your life, in that case, is saving someone else's.

BUT I have to say, @FridayJones has it right: there's no real dignity in death.

I remember when my dad died. I was there about 20 minutes after he passed. I had seen him only the day before and he was still soft and warm- even with cancer ravaging his body. AFTER he passed? It was obviously a shell. He was gone. Icy cold (it was summer) and everything was stiff and hardening. We chose to cremate. As a result, we didn't have any embalming done and no makeup. The body is different under those circumstances. It looks greyish and hard.

The fact is, YOU aren't there anymore.

As for me? IF there's anything worth using, use it. I'm done with it anyway.
As for the rest? burn me, scatter my ashes somewhere pretty so that the kids have an excuse to come see me while on vacation. heheh.
Or I could just follow through wth my FIRST plan: wander off into the woods and get mauled by a bear. Then I don't have to worry about any of it.:bored:

 

[Julesnaz]

It's just an idea right now, but I read about burial pods that use your body to fertilize a tree. I like the idea.