Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: thedoc on 09/08/2012 23:30:01

Title: How can I donate my body to science?
Post by: thedoc on 09/08/2012 23:30:01

Michael Bergey  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
I want to donate my living body in the name of science! I will sign anything and volunteer for any experiments! Please help me to do this!  

What do you think?

Title: Re: How can I donate my body to science?
Post by: CliffordK on 09/08/2012 23:56:10

Quote from: thedoc on 09/08/2012 23:30:01

Michael Bergey  asked the Naked Scientists:
I want to donate my living body in the name of science!

Your "living body"? 

I see that a similar topic was discussed a while ago.
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=15112.0

It is unlikely that you will be able to sign up for anything that is deemed to be a great risk to your health.  But, there is always some risk with all experiments.

Talk to your local medical school, or university psychology departments about whether there are any experiments and clinical trials that you may qualify for. 

The psychology trials are often heavily weighted towards college students, and in particular introduction psychology students, but they may also take some people "off the street", especially if they wish to get a better cross section of the population.

Medical clinical trials may require both "healthy" and "sick" patients.  Some of the rules on clinical trials are relaxed for patients such as cancer patients that are deemed to have a terminal illness.  Keep in mind, though, that many clinical trials involve a "blind" phase in which a portion receive the "active ingredient", and a portion receive either a "placebo", or the "standard care".  You may not know which group you would be assigned to, and even the person choosing the groups, or administering the drug may not know.

You can, of course, also donate blood and plasma, not as much for "science", as for helping keep people alive.

What about considering something like archaeology?  Perhaps not the same kind of "donating", but there may be needs for someone to simply dig or sift dirt.

Many medical schools also still teach Gross Anatomy & Dissection.  Talk to the anatomy department of your medical school if you wish to donate your body after (natural) death.