# Donating One's Body to Science **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 4, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-ones-body-to-science/475710 "2008-12-04T18:38:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-ones-body-to-science/475710/21 "2008-12-18T21:42:46Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I see your point, but still … I get this weird thrill thinking my hand, or foot, or whatever, ends up stolen and in a med student’s dorm closet, and he takes it out at parties to scare the pre-law chicks. Now that _would_ be awesome. To serve as a wingman after one’s death has got to be a truly admirable thing. I’d sign on that for that! ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-ones-body-to-science/475710/22 "2008-12-18T21:57:42Z")
> [@NoCoolUserName](#): > > I just have to tell the story of my father’s death. You’ll like it. I don’t know why, but I find this a compelling sig line. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-ones-body-to-science/475710/23 "2008-12-18T22:26:51Z")
> [@aplastic](#): > > I was just reading about Whole Body Donation and had read that bodies will not be used if the person has committed suicide. Does anyone know why this is? Does it depend on the method of suicide? My WAG would be that it’s because they don’t want themselves or their organisation to be a deciding or important factor in the events leading up to cases of suicide - i.e don’t want to be seen as having (passively) made the suicide an easier decision for the victim. That (if it is correct) would be a tiny bit similar to insurance companies not paying out on new policies in case of suicide. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-ones-body-to-science/475710/24 "2008-12-18T23:18:52Z")
Hey, many years ago I drafted a will for the disposal of my head to my friend, for use as a drinking cup. 😃 Read on: > [@](#): > > LAST SUPPLEMENTARY WILL > THIS IS THE LAST WILL of me, \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, of the City of Toronto, Province of Ontario, with respect to the disposition only of certain of my mortal remains (the “skull”) defined as follows: > > the bony framework of the head, composed of the cranial bones and the bones of the face; including, but not necessarily limited to, the ethmoid, frontal, hyoid, lacrimal, nasal, occipital, palatine, parietal, sphenoid, temporal, and zygomatic bones, and the inferior nasal conchae, mandible, maxillae, and vomer. > > I declare that I have, or will have at the time of my death, made a separate will disposing of all my other assets. > I. I REVOKE all former wills and other testamentary dispositions made by me in respect to the disposition only of the skull. > > II. I APPOINT \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ to be the Estate Trustee, Executor and Trustee of this my Will, provided that if said person shall have predeceased me or shall be unwilling or unable to act or to continue to act as such, than this my Will is rendered null and void. > > III. I GIVE the skull to my Trustees upon the following trusts, namely: > > (a) In the discretion of my Trustees, and at their own expense, I empower the Trustees to separate the skull from the residue of my mortal remains in a manner consistent with proper, decent and dignified treatment of human remains. > > (b) In the discretion of my Trustees, and at their own expense, to clean the skull of all flesh and other perishable matter in such a manner as to do no damage to the bones defined above. > > (c) In the discretion of my Trustees, and at their own expense, to construct an apparatus such that the skull may be used as a drinking-cup or vessel. > > (d) In the discretion of my Trustees, and at their own expense, to decorate the skull in a manner that, in the sole and absolute discretion of my trustee, shall be deemed tasteful. > > (e) To transfer and assign the skull following the operations described above to \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, for his own use absolutely. > > IV. I DECLARE that the treatment of the skull as described in the trusts above is consistent with my religious, cultural and personal morality and beliefs, and in no way constitutes neglect of any duty owing to my remains or improper or indecent interference or indignity to my remains contrary to sections 182(a) or (b) of the federal Criminal Code, or any successor legislation thereto. > > V. I DECLARE that I have received no valuable consideration, directly or indirectly, from any person for the use or ownership of the skull, and that the gift of the skull does not offend section 10 of the Ontario Human Tissue Gift Act, or any successor legislation thereto. > > VI. MY TRUSTEES AND BENEFICIARY shall be fully protected in exercising any discretion granted to them in this my Will and shall not be liable or accountable to any person, including but not limited to my spouse, my descendants, my parents or their heirs or personal representatives by reason of the exercise of such discretion. My Trustees shall exercise the powers, authority and discretion given to them in what they deem to be the best interest of the beneficiary, and such exercise of their powers, authority and discretion shall be binding and shall not be subject to any question or review, by any person, official, authority, court or tribunal whatsoever or whomsoever. > > VII. I DECLARE that no gift under this my Will shall be assigned or anticipated, or fall into any community of property, partnership or other form of sharing or division of property which may exist between the beneficiary and his spouse, and the gift shall remain the separate property of the beneficiary hereunder, free from all property rights or controls by his spouse. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, I direct that the gift and other benefits granted by me under this my Will shall be excluded from the net family property of the beneficiary and the value therefrom shall not be subject to division between the beneficiary and his spouse pursuant to the Ontario Family Law Act, or any successor legislation thereto. > > VIII. IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have to this my Last Will and Testament, written upon this and the preceding page, subscribed my name this \_\_\_\_\_\_ day of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, 2000. > > SIGNED by the testator, _**, ) > as his last Will, in the presence of us, both present ) > at the same time, who at his request, in his presence ) \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ > and in the presence of each other have hereunto ) > subscribed our names as witnesses. ) > WITNESS: > Name:**_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ ) > Address:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ ) \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ > Occupation:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ ) > WITNESS: > Name:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ ) > Address:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ ) \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ > Occupation:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ ) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-ones-body-to-science/475710/25 "2008-12-18T23:58:26Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > I just want to add my voice to the chorus of imploring people to read Mary Roach’s Stiff. Her most recent book, _Bonk_, is quite good too. It’s about sex research, so it doesn’t have the same uncanny reach-into-your-soul fascination as _Stiff_, but it’s still well worth a read. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-ones-body-to-science/475710/26 "2008-12-19T00:17:35Z")
Okay, so I donate my body to science, ask that my ashes not be returned to anyone - then what? The ashes just go in the garbage? Med schools should at least have a flower garden to dump them in or something. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-ones-body-to-science/475710/27 "2008-12-19T00:29:39Z")
In many cases, your ashes would not be kept distinct from the ashes of all the other medical waste that is routinely incinerated. It’s not cremation in the cosy, expensive sense of the word, most probably - it’s waste disposal. ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-ones-body-to-science/475710/28 "2008-12-19T01:17:03Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Okay, so I donate my body to science, ask that my ashes not be returned to anyone - then what? The ashes just go in the garbage? > > Med schools should at least have a flower garden to dump them in or something. Yeah, the whole point is that they _don’t_ have to separate your ashes from the rest of the trash. Valete, Vox Imperatoris ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-ones-body-to-science/475710/29 "2008-12-19T01:33:37Z")
Oh, I wouldn’t expect my ashes to be kept differentiated from anyone else’s, in fact I really don’t expect regular crematoriums to honestly keep anyone’s ashes separate, but is there anything wrong with my ashes being used to fertilize something other than the local landfill? ---
**Author:** ![aplastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@aplastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aplastic)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-ones-body-to-science/475710/30 "2008-12-19T04:43:28Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Oh, I wouldn’t expect my ashes to be kept differentiated from anyone else’s, in fact I really don’t expect regular crematoriums to honestly keep anyone’s ashes separate, but is there anything wrong with my ashes being used to fertilize something other than the local landfill? Couldn’t that be put in your will or part of the agreement? After all they are willing to give ashes to relatives why not just will them to a gardener or a garden? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-ones-body-to-science/475710/31 "2008-12-19T05:00:30Z")
Where I attended med school (incompletely, a short and uninteresting story), at the end of anatomy year they cremated the cadavers and held a memorial ceremony for them. I’m not certain what happened to the physical cremains, but I’d be very surprised if they unceremoniously dumped them in the landfill after that. Also, most of the cadavers were in their 60’s-80’s, many died of pneumonia, and one had breast implants. :eek: It was suspected that many were from the local assisted-living home, people who had no family who cared to claim them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-ones-body-to-science/475710.md?page=1)