this post was submitted on 12 Oct 2025
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Science Memes

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[–] FoxyFerengi@startrek.website 23 points 3 days ago (3 children)

I think it's implying the opposite, that they abused their body so much during life that they no longer qualify to be donated. Weight is one of the major disqualifiers for whole-body donation.

The vast majority of bodies go to medical institutions for surgical training, with a smaller percent going to research

[–] other_cat@piefed.zip 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Why is weight a disqualifier?

[–] FoxyFerengi@startrek.website 7 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

There are a few reasons that I know of: Heavy bodies are more difficult to move, fat bodies take longer to dissect, and large bodies don't always fit on the (usually decades-old) tables.

I think that weight is a disqualification that's been changing in recent years, because even in Europe bodies are starting to trend larger. But it's still something to keep in mind if you live in like Mississippi and think the University of Mississippi will take your 350 pound grandpa when he passes on.

[–] flora_explora@beehaw.org 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Severe obesity (body weight over 200 lbs.) or severe wasting

Wait what? I converted 200 lbs to kg and it should be equal 90 kg. This isn't severely obese. I weigh much more and do stuff like bouldering.

Anyways, doesn't even matter because it is important to also train on fat bodies. Because otherwise we face the same problems medicine has with ignoring female and black bodies. Most studies have just been on white, able-bodied male bodies. To actually treat all bodies with the best care, medical professionals should be trained on all types of bodies!

[–] FoxyFerengi@startrek.website 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I agree with you, I was just sharing what I knew of the process. My grandpa was rejected in a different state, but they were kind enough to cremate him for us.

[–] flora_explora@beehaw.org 1 points 2 days ago

Thanks for sharing, otherwise I wouldn't even have thought of this. It's so infuriating :(

[–] maxwellfire@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

That implies to me that surgeons aren't training on heavier people though which seems bad

[–] latenightnoir@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Oh, hadn't thought about it that way! And, fair point, different types of interest in science.

Also think the "for science" specifier set it so that the entire thing would be research oriented in my head:)) Were it for donation of organs, yeah... not much use for a nuked liver=)))