Joke Bruijs‘ Legacy: Donating Her Body to Medical Science – How it effectively works
Joke Bruijs has made the decision to donate her body to science after her death, a selfless act that contributes to medical education and research. While registration for body donation is currently paused at many Dutch university hospitals due to overwhelming demand,understanding the process is crucial for those considering this option. Here’s a breakdown of how body donation works in the Netherlands, based on information from lichaamsdonatie.info and insights from Professor De Ruiter.
Currently, registration is temporarily suspended at institutions like the Leidsch University medical Center (LUMC) due to “enormous interest,” with a recent pause lasting from October 31st last year to October 1st of this year. Individuals interested in registering are advised to contact the hospital in their region when registration reopens.
The process After Death
Once a registered donor passes away, the body is typically transported to the Anatomy department within 24 hours.This rapid response is vital because, as Professor De Ruiter explains, “The body will dissolve fairly quickly after the heart has stopped.” To preserve the body for educational and scientific purposes, embalming is performed. This involves injecting preserving agents and dyes into the bloodstream. Professor De Ruiter acknowledges this process limits the time for a customary physical goodbye.
How Donated bodies are Used
The majority of donated bodies are used for medical education, notably in medicine and other biomedical training programs. Students utilize these bodies for studies of organs, tissue, and the nervous system, and to practice surgical techniques. even after graduation, surgeons can use donated bodies to learn and refine new procedures.
Beyond education, donated bodies are also invaluable for scientific research. Such as, Amsterdam UMC is currently conducting research into the body’s decomposition process, burying bodies under various conditions to observe how they break down – a practice inspired by “body farms” like those in Texas. Donors can express preferences regarding the ultimate use of their body,though Professor De Ruiter notes,”actually most people don’t demand that many demands.”
What Happens to Remains?
Generally, remains are not returned to relatives after the completion of investigations. However, academic hospitals maintain memorial places for donors, offering a space for remembrance. Annual survivor’s meetings, such as the one held in Leiden, provide an opportunity to “remember who they were.”
unlike organ donation, body donation is typically a whole-body commitment. While specific requests, such as prohibiting the publication of images, may be considered, its not possible to exclude certain parts of the body. Alternatively,individuals can choose to donate only the heart and/or brain to the Brain and Harmbank for dedicated scientific research.
The Value of Real Anatomy
Professor De Ruiter emphasizes the continued importance of studying real human anatomy. “It’s great that you can study the real anatomy at a remains,” he states. Doctors gain crucial insights into the natural variations between individuals, the feel of tissues, potential for damage, and the practicalities of surgical procedures. “We use this with great gratitude.”
Academic hospitals currently accepting body donations (as of the source material):
* UMCG in Groningen
* LUMC in Leiden
* Radboudumc in Nijmegen
* Erasmus MC in Rotterdam
* UMCU in Utrecht
* AZM in Maastricht
* Amsterdam UMC
Source: lichaamsdonatie.info
