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How Does Science Use Donated Bodies?
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Although few people choose to donate their bodies to science, human cadavers are a critical component of medical education and scientific research. Whole body donation also has advantages for the family of the deceased, since funeral planning is unnecessary if a body is willed to science. The cost of donating a body is usually much lower than a typical cremation, let alone a traditional funeral.
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Before a donated body can be transported to the organization that will use it, the family or next of kin must agree. Although most bodies are willed to science by the deceased, sometimes the survivors prefer to retain the body for a traditional funeral. In this case, the final decision as to what happens to the body is in the hands of the organization the body has been willed to; in most cases, they will abide by the family's decision.
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Vials for disease testing. Creative Commons image by Denise Chan
Once the body's use has been authorized by the family, it must undergo testing to determine if it is suitable for scientific or educational use. Blood tests are performed to ascertain whether the cadaver carries any serious infectious diseases such as HIV or tuberculosis. Bodies that test positive are returned to ensure the safety of students and scientists who would be in close contact with them. Bodies may also be rejected if the deceased was extremely over- or underweight, or if the cadaver is in poor condition--for example, if the deceased was severely burned.
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Bodies that are donated "to science" are used for a variety of purposes, both for research and education. The majority go to medical schools, where they are dissected by medical students during hands-on anatomy classes. This provides valuable experience to future doctors, who would otherwise have to rely on photographs and stored specimens.
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In general, five or more medical students share a single cadaver, which they study over the course of several weeks in the first year of medical school. Unfortunately, the shortage of donated bodies prevents the level of in-depth study that would be possible if fewer students could be assigned to each cadaver.
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A pathologist prepares to examine tissue samples. Creative Commons image by Joe Hall
Donated bodies are also used for other purposes. Many bodies are used to teach new surgical techniques to established doctors. In this case, the body may be held by the manufacturer of a surgical implant or other product, such as an artificial joint. Physicians then receive training on how to use the new product by performing the surgery on a donated cadaver.
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Another use for donated bodies is medical research. Through whole body donation, researchers have gained insight into early diagnosis of diseases such as cancer. They have also invented new surgical techniques, perfected existing ones, and learned about the pathophysiology of conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
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A small portion of donated cadavers are used in other applications. Military researchers have used bodies donated to science to perform safety tests on body armor and footwear designed to withstand landmine blasts. Some bodies are used for auto crash tests, as they provide more accurate results than crash test dummies. Other bodies are used to teach emergency skills to non-physicians when other methods would be insufficient; for example, firefighters may learn to perform intubation by practicing on donated cadavers.
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Graduating class of medical students. Creative Commons image by Justin Henry
Once the body has been used and is no longer needed, the remains are cremated and returned to the family if desired. Otherwise, the ashes are typically buried at a memorial for this purpose, usually on the grounds of a medical school. Medical students who dissected a body in the course of their study typically attend a memorial service held in honor of the men and women who donated their bodies.
eHow Article: How Does Science Use Donated Bodies?
