# What to do with your body **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [September 22, 2019, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-your-body/840644 "2019-09-22T07:38:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tavaritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71e660/32.png) [@tavaritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tavaritz)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2019, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-your-body/840644/1 "2019-09-22T07:38:33Z")
Hello. Regarding the article: > **[Do cemetery plots have expiration dates?](https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2248/do-cemetery-plots-have-expiration-dates/)** > > A STAFF REPORT FROM THE STRAIGHT DOPE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD There’s two possibilities that are not mentioned in this articlae at all. Organ harvest and scientific specimen. 1. Organ harvest: Even if you old and feeble you still have skin, bone and corneas that are usable. So if you need to(1) and want to you can make the necessary arrangements that allows society to use you as spare parts when you die. Might be note on your drivers licence or separate card to keep in wallet. (1) In Finland, where I live, you need to make a notice that you don’t want to get harvested. Organ harvest is mandated by law and if you have not told not to you’ll be automatically used as spare parts. 1. Scientific specimen: Various eras of science (medical, forensic etc.) need fresh bodies to experiment on. Normally you can contact your local university to find out how to testament ones body to science. This usually contains cremation and the ashes are given to relatives if they want them. Topi ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2019, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-your-body/840644/2 "2019-09-23T16:20:37Z")
Yes, but after they have finished with harvesting and studying, don’t the remains have to be buried or cremated? Or are they just thrown out with the trash? ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2019, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-your-body/840644/3 "2019-09-23T17:23:13Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Or are they just thrown out with the trash? In most states cremation is legally considered final disposition of human remains. After that, legally they are just trash. Disposing of them in open water systems can be charged as littering. Even most religious authorities make no mention of post “to ashes” humanity. I was told, when I declined a very expensive urn to be included in my purchase of cremation items “Well, I guess we could put them in an old coffee can.” I said, “No need, a ziplock bag will be fine.” Tris ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2019, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-your-body/840644/4 "2019-09-23T17:33:36Z")
Is there a Ralphs around here? One thing the “back yard” [column](https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2573/can-a-person-be-buried-in-the-backyard-rather-than-a-cemetery/) says that causes puzzlement. In CA, a cemetery is defined as having 6+ bodies in it. How does a brand spanking new cemetery get started? “Sorry, we can’t put Uncle Ted into the plot since he’d be the first.” ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2019, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-your-body/840644/5 "2019-09-23T20:34:06Z")
I guess you have to have six or more clients lined for your grand opening. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-your-body/840644/6 "2019-09-24T14:03:02Z")
In other news of grave concern, Gen. Francisco Franco is still dead, but [pretty frisky](https://www.foxnews.com/world/francos-remains-can-be-exhumed-spanish-supreme-court-rules) nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-your-body/840644/7 "2019-09-24T21:05:01Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Yes, but after they have finished with harvesting and studying, don’t the remains have to be buried or cremated? Or are they just thrown out with the trash? My late father had his body donated to the University of Kansas Medical Center, and mom is also doing that upon her death. Dad died in 2016 and they sent us the ashes about 14 months after they received his body. Quite frankly, I wondered what was being done with Dad’s body. That question was answered when I attended a ‘thank you’ ceremony for the families of the deceased who had donated their bodies. The cadavers are used by first-year med students for dissection and learning the anatomy of the human body. The students refer to them as their ‘first patient’. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2019, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-your-body/840644/8 "2019-09-25T04:16:27Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Quite frankly, I wondered what was being done with Dad’s body. They won’t tell you, but they stage Friday-night puppet shows. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2019, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-your-body/840644/9 "2019-09-27T14:24:34Z")
Oh, sure. “Imagine a giant cockroach, with unlimited strength, a massive inferiority complex, and a real short temper, is tear-assing around Manhattan Island in a brand-new Edgar suit. That sound like fun?”