NOT REALLY THE END

 

 

 

 

 

Not Really the End

“What happens when I die?” This is a question often wondered by people around the globe. Although there is no definite answer for what may happen to your conscious being, it is worth considering what will happen to your body.

Throughout history, the dissection of a human body has always been a controversial topic. For hundreds of years it was forbidden and, even when it was allowed, it was met with strict rules and stipulations by the governing bodies of the time. This was largely a result of human nature. As humans, we naturally fear what we don’t understand and before the rise of medical science, death and disease were quite scary. Even today, medical students themselves are unlikely to donate their bodies to science, citing religion and culture as reasons why (De Gama et al., 2018).

Not only are dissections used by medical professionals in some attempts to discover an unknown cause of death, more and more universities are allowing medical students to perform dissections with educational intent. “The medical and biological sciences are currently progressing more rapidly than at any other point in history. To properly approach and keep up with this medical evolution, health professionals require human material with which to conduct experiments and learn” (Park et al., 2011). As the future leaders in the medical community, it is important for today’s students to have a strong understanding of the human body. As discussed in The Body Donors, a documentary following two individuals who plan on donating their bodies to science, the ability for future medical professionals to practice some of the skill sets they will be called upon to use one day is extremely valuable. As someone who has undergone minor surgeries in the past, the experience and knowledge of the surgeon is extremely comforting.

After reading the above, it is probably easy to see that I view the act of donating your body to science as a noble pursuit. The obvious question that follows is, “Do I plan on donating my body to science?” As of this moment in time, no. Before the hypocritical accusations start flying, allow me to briefly justify. I am currently an organ donor and the two are mutually exclusive. As a healthy individual, I very strongly believe that if I were to unexpectedly die, a lot of lives can be saved via organ transplant. In my job as a SAR Tech, I am directly providing life saving treatment to the patients who come into my care. With that theme in mind, I think it would be amazing for me to be able to continue my work of directly saving the lives of others through my death.

That being said, I do not believe my answer will always be no. A couple years ago, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. Although I am an ideal candidate for organ donation, she is not. However, she is an ideal candidate for donating her body to science. Not only will this provide an opportunity for others to learn about the disease that is plaguing her body, it will also potentially save the lives of other in a more indirect approach. In How to donate your body to science, an article by The Star, a third-year medical student named Bernadett Kovacs explains how valuable a learning experience it is for medical students to be able to work on real bodies. In fact, working with cadavers is becoming such common practice amongst universities that privatized companies are starting to emerge to supply schools in need (Wingfield, 2018). If donating your body to science truly results in more competent doctors and surgeons, then it can be seen as indirectly saving lives. If down the road I am no longer an eligible candidate for organ donation, I will definitely allow my body to be used for scientific purposes.

I have always believed that giving back to society through death is a noble action. Whether it be organ donation or body donation, there is a real chance for people to do something for others when their body is no longer of use for them. Although this mod hasn’t directly influenced my personal decision on this topic, it has made me realize how important it is for medical students to be able to practice their craft while in school. For that reason, I plan to be more active about encouraging others to donate their body to science. I hope to be a medical student one day and would jump at the chance to work with as real of a training tool as there is. So the next time you ask yourself, “What happens when I die,” consider making a difference in the world by donating your body to science.

RESCUE

Branswell, H., 2008. How to donate your body to science | The Star [WWW Document]. The Star. URL https://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2008/11/24/how_to_donate_your_body_to_science.html (accessed 10.2.18).

De Gama, B.Z., Bhengu, T.T., Satyapal, K.S., 2018. Attitudes of Undergraduate South African Students towards Body Donation. International Journal of Morphology 36, 130–134. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-95022018000100130

Park, J.-T., Jang, Y., Park, M.S., Pae, C., Park, J., Hu, K.-S., Park, J.-S., Han, S.-H., Koh, K.-S., Kim, H.-J., 2011. The trend of body donation for education based on Korean social and religious culture. Anatomical Sciences Education 4, 33–38. https://doi.org/10.1002/ase.198

Wingfield, H.A., 2018. Body donation today: A Critical Comparison of Two Current Practices, and Moving into the Future. Clinical Anatomy 31, 86–89. https://doi.org/10.1002/ca.23010