Donating your body to Suan Dork Hospital

[jko]

I visited the appropriate (rather spooky) department in Suan Dork who gave me a form in Thai donate my body to the hospital. Assuming all advance formalities and paperwork are in order, these are my assumptions so far. I will be most grateful for comments from those who have may have recently experienced this procedure at Suan Dork:
 

1. When you die your body will be taken to the hospital within 24 hours, and prepared for dissection, etc.
2. This means that a 'standard’ funeral at a wat cannot take place, so relatives/loved ones cannot have closure. They will just be informed that you have passed away. Not ideal really.
4.  When the body has served its purpose, it will be cremated together with other donated bodies at a memorial ceremony. Monks and students attend this.
5. Only two relatives can attend this service.
6. No ashes can be returned to relatives. Also not ideal if you have special wishes.
 

Grateful for responses to this.

Edited December 27, 2019 by jko
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[dcnx]

I’m not giving them my body. I’d rather they toss me in a ditch than botch my autopsy from a death that was probably caused by a local in the first place.

[Orton Rd]

They can have my ashes, no way they are cutting me about

[BritManToo]

8 hours ago, jko said:

Suan Dork who gave me a form in Thai donate my body

Double pricing for foreigners there, don't give them anything.

[NancyL]

When you agree to donate your body, it's used for instructional purposes in anatomy classes.  The students treat the bodies with a great deal of respect and at the end of semester, your family will receive a notice of the "group" memorial service at the wat where two people can attend.  They will also be invited to send a photograph of you that will be displayed and honored. 

 

And, while, yes, no remains are returned to the family, the body is treated in a very honorable fashion this is a very good way to help educate future medical professionals.

[EricTh]

Your body will be naked for the medical students to see.....

 

Not a good thought.

[Bill97]

25 minutes ago, EricTh said:

Your body will be naked for the medical students to see.....

 

Not a good thought.

You think that will bother you? You will be dead and have no thoughts.

[ignis]

I am still not clear on this........  Hospital must receive your body within 24 hours.....

 

But death of a non Thai here = Police must be informed = autopsy is carried out + Embassy informed + the Embassy is the only person that can release the body, they 1st try to find a next of kin re-blood relative  for there instructions before the body can move....

 

Cannot see all this happening within the 24 hours...  

[Pattaya46]

Unsure what is the aim of the OP in posting this ?

Anyway, I remember reading - maybe even on ThaiVisa - that it's not the best option if your aim is to save money (cremation, funeral...)

Main reason is that they have criteria to accept bodies for education. I think I remember that they just don't accept people too old (50?), and people too fat. That eliminates a lot of farang retirees...

[Pattaya46]

Too late to edit my above post for this link, so :

 

RedCross - Body Donation for Studies

 

Quote

The hospital will not accept bodies in the following cases:
- The donor has been dead for over 24 hours. (except in the case where the body has been stored in a hospital's morgue)
- The donor has undergone an operation or has wounds from head and brain accidents.
- The donor has died from brain cancer or fatal diseases such as AIDS, hepatitis, and tuberculosis.
- The donor is involved in a court case or has undergone an autopsy, except one performed around the abdominal area, which can be used for medical studies.
- The body has been preserved with formalin.
If any of the conditions above are detected after the body has been given up to the hospital, the hospital will contact the donor's relatives to take back the body for a funeral.

 

and this one :

 

 

Edited December 28, 2019 by Pattaya46

[thaibeachlovers]

20 hours ago, ignis said:

I am still not clear on this........  Hospital must receive your body within 24 hours.....

 

But death of a non Thai here = Police must be informed = autopsy is carried out + Embassy informed + the Embassy is the only person that can release the body, they 1st try to find a next of kin re-blood relative  for there instructions before the body can move....

 

Cannot see all this happening within the 24 hours...  

Bodies are of no use if decaying. Best if die in the hospital where the body will be used.

One would assume that if the legalities are taken care of ahead of death there would be no problem and an autopsy could be done as part of educating future surgeons.

 

[thaibeachlovers]

On 12/28/2019 at 1:00 AM, BritManToo said:

Double pricing for foreigners there, don't give them anything.

Saves funeral costs if one is a dirt poor farang.

[RJRS1301]

20 hours ago, EricTh said:

Your body will be naked for the medical students to see.....

 

Not a good thought.

Oh Some have seen it warm and breathing, did that concern you? 

[Brightly]

Can anyone confirm whether they take 50+ year-old cadavers?
I have been considering this option.
 

I’m too old to donate blood or donate organs, but I’d still like to think  my body could serve a noble purpose, even in death.

 

Please, no snark comments.

 

 

[Dumbastheycome]

11 minutes ago, Brightly said:

Can anyone confirm whether they take 50+ year-old cadavers?
I have been considering this option.
 

I’m too old to donate blood or donate organs, but I’d still like to think  my body could serve a noble purpose, even in death.

 

Please, no snark comments.

 

 

I think there is no age limit on  cornea which  are  short supply in Thailand .

[tabarin]

Ha, no way that is gonna happen with my body. Certainly not at that hospital, very bad experiences with them. My spirit would haunt them.
I also doubt it would be possible to make it within the 24 hour time limit as previous poster said.

Edited December 31, 2019 by tabarin

[Pattaya46]

8 minutes ago, tabarin said:

I also doubt it would be possible to make it within the 24 hour time limit as previous poster said.

From the RedCross, in my post #11 :

- The donor has been dead for over 24 hours. (except in the case where the body has been stored in a hospital's morgue)