Grim Subject but i need to ask

Hi All

I have been thinking about this a lot of late, and wonder if anyone can tell me, where i can donate my body after death to MS research,

Not that i am thinking of dying just yet lol, but i would like to have this in place, just in case anything should happen to me, one never knows what tomorrow may bring

Sorry this is such a grim subject, but i don't want to be just buried when my body may help cure a disease

Thanks
Tyler

[twopack]

I'd be interested too.  We all need to make plans, whatever they are.

I've had people tell me that they wanted to donate their bodies but it's not always easy these days to get a medical school to accept.  My guess?  It must be expensive for them.

Mary

[PastorDan]

I've heard of several folks who have donated their remains for scientific purposes, but I have never been filled in regarding details, to my recollection.  I know a funeral director who has always been square with me.  Despite his potential conflict of interest, I'll ask him!

If you want to have your remains used specifically for research pertaining to a particular illness, such as MS, I'd suggest starting with the national societies connected with the illness in question.  I'd wonder if the Consortium of MS Centers might offer leads, also.

[jensequitur]

Contact the Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center  - they have a form you can fill out and send to them to donate your body.

[michelleric]

You can call your neuro and ask them if they know.

In Cleveland you can donate "yourself" to the Mellon Center @ the Cleveland Clinic.

[Quixotic1]

I also suspect that the National MS Society would know - at least for donation of our brains for MS research.

Q

[Lulu54]

Most of the universities with teaching hospitals have anatomical gift programs.  If I am remembering right, from what I have read it is next to impossible to move your body across state lines.  The institution your body is going to should be in your state.  that may just pertain to Ohio law, but I am thinking it is bigger than our state.

I have had this talk several times over with my neuro.  He knows my intentions.  they are still working out the specific anatomical gift program for MS patients but in the meantime my body can go to the unversity.

A local university here has a wonderful donor program.  The cadavers are used by medical students - hey, they have to learn somehow!  The school pays for the transportation of the body.  And when they are done, the cremains are available to be returned to the family or the family can opt to have the cremains buried in a small cemetery they have on the school property.  They have an annual commitment ceremony for all their donors of the past year.

If you look at medical schools in your state, search for their anatomical gift program.  Most are posted on line.  

Oh yeah - one more reason why this is so important to make your plans known in advance - the body cannot be prepared in any way at a local funeral home.  Bodily fluids need to be intact from what I have read.

now is that too much information ?  I hope this helped some people to think more about this important contribution we can make.  

be well, live long!
Lulu

[tyler175]

Hi all

Thanks for the great info, I will certainly look into the suggestions,

I basically had no idea of where to search for this type of info,

I know it is a subject that many of us don't want to think about, and it is nice to know that there were so many replies

Thanks all
Tyler

[HVAC]

How may Young Frankenstein fans? Who would not like your brain a jar saying abnormal. LOL.

Funny you should ask. I called my local teaching hospital  last week because I would kinda like to stay locally. The lady was nice. I told the lady I had no intention of dying any time soon. They only want Parkinson's and Alzheimer's brains.

I think I sent a form to a place in Illinois they have not contacted me back. The key is they have to harvest the brain and spinal cord with in hours of your death so it has to be set up and your family has to know what your wishes are and be comfortable with it ahead of time, like organ donation.

The reality is MRIs tell Researchers nothing they need the real deal.

Alex

[cydpink]

I know that in the UK you can donate your body to most of the major medical universities (Google body donation) but this means that you aren't able to donate your organs before (this maybe different for each individual university).

Also some medical universities may not accept your body if you have certain diseases (Southampton doesn't accept people with MS for example).

Also medical universities use the donated bodies to teach medical students and not specifically for a particular disease or illness or for research into diseases or illness.

As suggested the national or international MS societies may have more details on specific universities that do research into the disease for donation.

Good luck