DEAR DR. GOTT: My husband and I have decided to be organ donors. We are also discussing donating our bodies to medical science. Can you please discuss the details of making a cadaver donation? How do we find the right institution to donate to, and what needs to be done in advance? What costs are involved, and can the donor specify what can and cannot be done with the body? In terms of medical science, please explain exactly what the body is used for, how it is used, and what is done with any remains. Thank you in advance for the information.

DEAR READER: To begin with, there is a great difference between organ donation and donating a body to medical science. Furthermore, there are several types of donations, including organ and tissue from a living donor, donations following cardiac or brain death, and whole-body donations. Organ donation can include stem cells, tissue, blood and organs. [Read more...]