Several months ago, after reading Stiff by Mary Roach, I got very curious about donating my body to science. I sent away for an information packet about it, and boy is it complicated!

Now I'm curious about the general consensus about the topic.

Would you ever donate your body to science? Moreover, if you did donate your body, would there be something that you didn't want them to do with your body? Some bodies are used as crash test dummies, some are farmed out for pieces for plastic surgery students to practice on. There is also a clause that would make it possible for your family to know exactly where your body went and what it was used for. If a family member donated, would you want to know what was done with them?

After they do with you whatever it is they are going to do with you, they cremate the rest and send it back to your family.

If you wouldn't donate your body, why? Are there religious reasons? Personal ones? Familial ones?

As I said, pure curiosity here. I'd love your opinions and thoughts on the subject.

I have to tell you that there was a time when i would've considered being an organ donor but Mickey Mantle made me change my mind against it. His liver was shot because he was a hardcore alcoholic for so many years but because he was a celebrity he was bumped to the top of "the list"? Sorry, I'm not a used body part store. I would not donate my body science, but of course we're assuming there's anything salvageable anyway. I realize a lot of good could come from the donation of my remains, I'm not into it, torch me then toss my dust to the wind.

I was going to be cremated just as a way to save anyone I leave behind some money but would not be opposed to organs being donated before hand /unsure.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':blink:' />

I have already donated my organs in the event of my unnatural passing. Iowa has an organ donor registry and I have signed up to donate any organs that are salvageable. I do however have the clause that my body will not be donated to science, and they cant use my skin. I dont know why those things bother me, but they do. Its my body and I dont feel comfortable donating that much of me. My family has been instructed to cremate the rest and do with them as they please.

I wouldnt donate a family members body either. Unless it was their wishes. I always honor the wishes of the deceased. Sometimes that gets strange. Especially when the person had brain cancer when they made those wishes known. I also wouldnt want to know what they did with the body if it were donated, pretty gruesome if you ask me.

I am an organ donor. Whatever is left over, I would want buried, not cremated. I've told my husband this after the experience with his sister a few months ago. I told him I want a Catholic funeral mass, burial and an Irish wake with lots of food and music. One last party to send me off. /wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':blink:' />

I wouldnt donated my body to science. Call me morbid but i find a kind of beauty in cemeteries. The head stones are monuments to people who once lived and were once loved.

My uncle died when i was very young but he was so full of life that i still have very fond and vivid memories of him, memories i would always share with Jonathan. (my 6 year old for all intents and purposes) He would laugh and ask me to repeat them once in a while, they were funny stories and he likes to hearing about all the pranks he used to play. Back in July i took him to his grave for the first time that he could remember, I told him who's grave it was and Jonathan being the adorable child he is started telling the head stones about all the stories we've told him. I went off to put flowers on my grandfathers grave and came back to Jonathan with tears running down his cheeks. When i asked him what was wrong he said that Uncle Raymond was real. Hearing the stories was one thing, but being at his gave made him real to Jonathan. I'm vain enough to want that, to have something on this earth long after I'm gone as tangible proof that i was once here. I cant have that if they strap my body to a car seat and see how far my arse can fly out a windshild.

I'd be willing to donate the old b3 hammond organ in the garage…but not any of my vitals….THANK YOU!

BA, i'm curious can you have a say in what you do or do not want done to your body if you donate it?