Many people leave directions on how they would like their body to be disposed of. Before making a final decision, they may consider burial or cremation. Another option they may think about is the possibility of donating their body to medical science.
There are many medical schools that would love the gift of a body that can be used to help students study human anatomy. And there are non-profit organizations that act as clearing houses for groups of those schools. For example, in Florida, the Anatomical Board of the State of Florida office in Gainesville, Florida (800-628-2594) handles all of the “donations” of bodies to all the medical schools in that state. And there is a web site, maintained by the State of Florida Anatomical Board http://www.med.ufl.edu/anatbd/usprograms.html, which has a comprehensive list of medical schools across the country that are interested in receiving cadaevars.
But beware. Over the last several years, several for-profit companies have been formed that take a body and sell it, or parts of it, for a large profit….often more than $100,000 – $150,000!
If you are considering donating your body, think about this. Do you want someone to make money off of your death – money that will not go to your family but to a faceless corporation. If the answer is no, check out the organization carefully before you sign any paperwork.