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A TOTAL OF 308 people donated their bodies to science in Ireland from 2012 to 2014, meaning they would be dissected by medical students to help in their studies.
There are five body donation programmes in Ireland, at the medical schools in Trinity College Dublin; University College Dublin; the RCSI; University College Cork; and NUI Galway.
The Medical Independent received the figures on the number of donations through the Freedom of Information Act.
It found that 94 bodies were donated to the RCSI, 66 to UCC, 54 to NUIG, 48 to Trinity, and 46 to UCD.
The silent teachers
Why would someone donate their body to science? We spoke to Gretta Farrell, whose mother Teresa Stanley donated her body to Trinity.
Said Gretta of her mother’s motivation:
She felt that a lot of different things happened her over the years and she thought they have to be able to learn something from her body. She had breast cancer, gallstones and hip replacements. She thought, ‘It has to do some good for someone’.
The donation must be made by the person themselves, and arrangements put in place before they pass away.
“They have so much respect for the bodies and the people,” said Gretta of the medical schools. “To hear things like that was good. They call them the silent teachers.”
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I’m seriously thinking about it! My grandchildren can tell their friends I went to Trinity.
Organ donation should be mandatory, followed by this option (medical research) and finally cremation.
The ludicrous practice of shoving people in boxes and occuping precious space should be out-lawed. Is it not enough for humans to pollute the planet when they are alive?
Please don’t ever become a grief counsellor or work with the recently bereaved.
I signed up for body donation . I can’t donate my organs due to meds I take so it’s the next best thing.
See ruth lacks a bit of empathy.. Lol
That’s what I’ve decided on. Donate organs ,donate body to science. I’ve never been religious in anyway so a nice gathering for my friends and family to remember me by is all I want.
I would donate but I think they know how ironman works already
anyone know how to start the process.who to contact.what to do
In order to donate your body, you have to contact the nearest of the 5 colleges listed above. They’ll give you a form to fill in. The arrangements must be in place before you die; your family can’t donate your body afterwards, even if they know you wanted to do it and/or you’ve put it in your will.
Here’s the contact for Trinity, if you phone them they’ll send you out further information and forms to complete if you wish to proceed https://medicine.tcd.ie/anatomy/donations/
We had our annual memorial service in NUIG 2 weeks ago for the families of the donators. To see a part of the lives behind the bodies really put everything in perspective. Without their gift we couldn’t learn a thing, books and images can only do so much in anatomy… You need the bigger picture and to get first hand experience. Respect for the men and women and their families for their patience. I have a feeling I’ll be donating when the time comes.
I’ve seen a few comments asking how you go about donating. One of our anatomy professors said you have to contact the medical school directly… Just an FYI!
- They asked me to which University I would like my body sent, – I said, “surprise me…!! “
My mother went about the process of donating her body to science in the 70s and they told her they didn’t want it. The oddest form of rejection I’ve ever heard.
(They said they had enough donations at the time)
Good on them .. Science & research is more real & more important than religion.
I would love to do this..but I want to be an organ donor as well.they should make it possible to do both
It is possible to do both, technically. The majority of bodies donated to medical science are by elderly people, who are likely to be too old to be considered as organ donors.
The majority of organ donors are either family members or friends of the person requiring a transplant or they are a younger, otherwise healthy, person, who unfortunately passes away due to an accident. (Unless it’s the case of a cornea transplant it something similarly rare, in which case it would be possible to use the organs of a donor who may be sick with an unrelated illness). Their organs are transplanted hours after their death normally.
However, to donate your body to medical science you have to put the plan into motion before you die
It’s fantastic that you’re considering donating your body. It is such an incredible thing to do.
There was an excellent TV programme “Donate my Remains” featuring TCD.
Address Anatomy Dept. Level 1
Biomedical Science Institute, TCD D2. Phone 353 1896 1295
anatomy@tcd.ie
The body is returned 2 years later.
S. Ward and P. McEntee
See you there, maybe!!! Haha
I donated by body to science and asked for a sub. Big cheque!
Oh the ultimate in vanity!
That’s my plan too.
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