The human body is the most precious source of knowledge
in all of medical science. Amidst medicine's dazzling array
of technology, nothing can equal the human body in giving
students of medicine their fundamental knowledge of anatomy.
Thus, the donation of one's body to medicine literally
becomes the gift of life.
The study of anatomy provides an understanding of body
structures, how they function and how they relate to
each other. Such understanding is the physician's most
important tool. All medical learning and research stems
from this understanding.
Throughout the centuries, anatomical study of the human
body has led to many major advances in medicine. For example,
a surgical team at a New York medical school saved a teenage
girl from severe deformity because the physicians were
able to perfect a new technique on a human cadaver before
operating on the girl.
At another medical school, researchers have compiled an
atlas for radiologists to interpret CAT scans based on
extensive study of cross sections of the human body. This
atlas plays a vital role in the early detection of breast
cancer and other diseases.
Human cadavers donated to medical schools have also been
of enormous value in research related to diabetes and heart
disease.
Many people view the donation of their body to medicine
as a way of continuing to serve humanity even after they
die. Others see it also as a way of relieving their surviving
family members of the financial burden of funerals. In
addition to permitting the use of one's body for medical
education and research, anatomical donations permit both
skin and eye transplants to be made, and such donations
may also be made by those who are unable to make organ
donations due to age.
The Associated Medical Schools of New York, through its
Anatomical Committee, serves as a clearinghouse for information
on anatomical donations and receives pledges for donations.
Any individual over 18 years old may donate his or her
body to a medical, dental or other health professions school
for the purpose of research and education. The next of
kin of a recently deceased person may also make such a
donation.
Since an anatomical donation is a gift to the institution,
donors or their families never receive money for making
a donation pledge.
Donors may select a particular institution to receive
their gift. However, many permit the Associated Medical
Schools to make that determination to provide an equal
distribution of donations.
Donors may specify final disposition, which will, in all
cases, be honored by the institution, that receives the
anatomical gift. Most schools will assume the cost of final
disposition unless the donor asks that their remains be
returned to families for funeral ceremonies.
Donors are free to change their minds at any time.
How to Pledge
Donation Form
Those interested in pledging a donation may contact a
school directly (a
list of contacts is available here.) Associated Medical
Schools of New York will also forward your request for
further information. Please let us know if you have a preference for:
* Columbia University College of
Physicians and Surgeons
* University of Buffalo State University of New York
* SUNY Health Science Center at Stony Brook
* Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell
University
* New York Chiropractic College
AMSNY will then forward your name to the school selected.
The school, in turn, will send you a donor card and any
additional information needed. The card is to be carried
on your person, and the information sent from the school
will explain the procedure that will be followed in the
event of your death.
Each anatomical donation helps to ensure the future of
high quality medical care and innovative research. The
gratitude expressed by the medical profession to each donor
cannot be over emphasized.
To obtain further information, please contact:
Associated Medical Schools of New York (AMSNY)
10 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1120
New York, New York 10020
(212)
218 - 4610 |