How does donating a body to science work?

I suggest googling body donation and your state name to find out the procedure and any limitations in your state.

I was thinking about doing this, as was my DD. But now, as a physiotherapy student who works with cadavers and body parts, she's changed her mind.    I'm undecided. 

We have had four family members who have done this. Three in Maryland and one in North Carolina. Everything was prearranged and went off fine.

One of the four selected a very particular use for her body (studying decomposition). They had a very quick visitation at her home while she was on ice and was then picked up. Most of the family could not get there in the time frame needed. The other three were taken from the hospital/nursing home with no visitation at all but just memorial services later.

I would also add that, at least in the case of my friend at the medical school she attended, the bodies are treated very respectfully and even called by name.

When I was in college, at the local JC, we did a round with a cadaver. We were very respectful with the body and he did have a name that we used but I can't remember it now almost 30 years later.

Be sure to find out what happens after they are done.

Some places require the family to take care of the remains.

I had a relative recently die at UCSF hospital. They held the body a few extra days for teaching and I believe used the retinas. The body was then released to the funeral home.

My FIL donated himself to the closest medical school.
We were able to have a normal open casket funeral, and then the funeral home delivered him after the funeral. About a year later, we got his “portion” of remains back after a group cremation of all bodies that were used in study. We then had a private burial at the cemetery for immediate family only.

I'm in the UK and arranged, a few months ago, for this to happen to me, both in my Will and by completing the necessary forms for the anatomy department of the university.  My immediate next of kin are all on board with my decision but I realise I've not yet told my GP.

It may be totally different where you are but what I learnt in making the decision was:  I could not be an organ donor if the body was to go to research, which is understandable.  Also, as someone mentioned, bodies can be refused for various reasons, including, here, a high BMI or following certain surgeries.   There are only 3 universities in the entire country here that accept bodies and, as I live so far away from them, it is my responsibility to pay for suitable transport to get to the anatomy department.  (My daughter in law did say she would prop me up in the back seat of the car.  Sorry, irreverent but I found it funny!).  Bodies need to be transported within 2 days or they are unacceptable so dying over the holidays would be ruled out.  

Here bodies are kept for research for 3 years by the university and I gave permission for photographs (which do not identify a person nor name them) to remain for further teaching.  After the 3 years the remains are cremated in private by the university then they are returned to the next of kin to lay to rest in whatever manner the family chooses.  The family can attend a memorial service at the university but not the actual cremation. 

I just Googled how to leave a body to medical research and dealt with it from there.  The university have been very respectful and caring in their correspondence with me. 

My dad did this. My mom talked him into it. She had a friend whose dil had her body donated. My mom saw how hard it was on us when my mother in law died. My husband had 5 brothers and sisters but it was up to us to plan the funeral.

Our local university has a program but you have to sign up in advance. There’s a lot of papers you have to sign and they will send you a card. A family member will have to sign papers also. When he was dying, the nurse told me what a wonderful program it was and how they treat the body with respect. When he died the university picked up the body. They gave me the option of picking up his ashes when they were done or I could have his ashes buried at the university. They have a beautiful grave site for everyone who has donated. My dad worked there and loved the university so we chose that option. We had a family memorial dinner for him and after a year the university had a memorial service for the ones who donated that year.

I cannot tell you how much I appreciate his choice. My mom has signed up. My husband and I are in the process. For “me” it makes sense. My body is just a shell when die. I’ve told my family to donate everything that can benefit other people. But I realize everyone is different on their views of this.

If you have a chance, read the book Stiff: the Curious Life of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach. It's a fascinating book about the entire process of death. It's not creepy at all, but takes a respectful and even comical look at life and death. She deals with the topic of donating a body to science. I learned so much from the book.