people don't just all of a sudden die of cancer, so that wouldn't be very believable.
My uncle recently died of Cancer after only finding out a few months, earlier. A close friend also had this happen. And that was WITH treatment. I still agree it's not the best idea (I was really just thinking out loud)…but you can absolutely get it and die within months or even weeks if not given treatment. I do appreciate your comment.
At the very least you will almost certainly have to go under an autopsy prior to donating your body to any science. Whether or not they accept bodies post autopsy I'm not sure. But I don't know if there are any states that let you go without an autopsy for a suicide. Trust me I would rather them do anything but slice my body up and withhold my body from my family just to tell them what they already know. But no writing in a will or begging and pleading will get you out of it. Policy is policy.
You're partly correct. An autopsy is required if I am an organ donor. However, I can't find any evidence that autopsy's are mandatory. I know of specific true crime cases where the spouse will have the body cremated and insist there be no autopsy…(obviously making it very suspicious) but it was legal.
Given the difference of opinion, I asked Chat GPT to help us out, in case anybody wanted to know:
"Autopsies are not always mandatory. Here are a few common situations where an autopsy may be required:
1. If a death occurs under suspicious, violent, or unexpected circumstances, an autopsy may be legally mandated to determine the cause and manner of death. (I.e. possible murder)
2. Sudden or Unexpected Death: If someone dies suddenly without a known medical condition, authorities may request an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
3. Public Health Concerns: If there are concerns about contagious diseases or public health risks, an autopsy may be ordered to understand the cause and prevent further risks.
4. Medical Uncertainty: If the cause of death is unclear or if it happens in a hospital setting and doctors are uncertain about the cause, an autopsy might be performed.
5. Legal or Family Request: Sometimes families can request an autopsy for personal or legal reasons, although they may need to bear the cost unless it is part of an official investigation.
In some cases, it may not be required if the cause of death is clear. Of course, IF there is a life insurance payout, it would be required. But I think most of us knew that. In cases of suicide, an autopsy is often required but not mandatory and depends on local laws and circumstances of death. Religious or personal beliefs might also influence whether an autopsy is performed.
Autopsy results are not public knowledge so IF I trusted my next of kin, I'd probably be ok with it. The reason for my post was that I don't trust my family to be honest about my life (or death) after I'm gone…so I'm trying to think of a way to control that narrative.
I also ask..please be gentle with me. I've been betrayed a lot by the people closest to me, and I was butchered in a medical procedure in 2018 they tried to cover up and I'm not coping very well physically or mentally at the moment. I'm really just trying to work through my thoughts and get to a peaceful place. Because only then will I feel ready to ctb.
True. I am not even sure what the statutory REQUIREMENTS are to be able to donate. This IS the route I am taking, as opposed to a trad funeral, when the time comes, however it happens. I can't see putting the few friends and fam I have through the expense of a funeral or even a cremation and a cardboard box.
I'd just as soon they use that money for something enjoyable and just go on about their lives without all the hoopla we attach to dying. At least when it comes to me anyway.
I enjoyed reading your message and learning something new! I had no idea that you could opt out of having any service at all. I assumed that everybody that died had to have a funeral or ceremony of some kind for the family. Do you think your friends and family will prefer not having a funeral for you? Have you spoken to them about it?
I have left my family enough to cover the costs of my own funeral. I know it will be a sad time for them, and I presumed that a funeral would be an important part of the healing process for them. I want to minimises any pain I'm going to cause them. It's interesting you have such a different take I had not considered. Id be interested to hear people's thoughts on this.
Oh gosh!! I'm sorry -- that's kinda pertinent here -- because he ate a shotgun slug in front of a local police department. I know the family didn't have an autopsy done.
The general assumption is that he MUST have gotten a bad diagnosis from his doctor that he didn't want to put himself or his family through.
I do have an idea that might help you circumvent a traditional autopsy, though. What about willing your body to a criminal justice training program that uses bodies to study/teach forensic investigation?? Those programs use bodies to study decomposition/decay and the flora (bugs, microbes, etc.) that flourish in order to determine approximate times of death, stuff like that.
I found this:
To donate a body to a body farm, you can contact the Forensic Anthropology Center (FAC) directly at (865) 806-5106
. The FAC does not charge fees for body donations, but they do encourage financial contributions to support their research, training, and outreach.
Some reasons people donate their bodies to a body farm include:
- Helping the criminal justice system: Some people want to help identify unidentified remains and find answers for families and the criminal justice system.
- Teaching: Some people want to keep teaching after they're gone.
- Being useful forever: Some people want to be useful forever.
- Knowing a crime victim: Some people have known a crime victim.
- Metaphysical reasons: Some people feel like they're "not in that body anymore" and want others to use it to teach and learn.
- Some medical conditions, such as contagious diseases and extreme emaciation or obesity, can make a body unacceptable for scientific study. Certain circumstances of death may also preclude donation.
Anyway, I hope this helps!!
You are an absolute angel! It definitely helps and I really enjoyed hearing your ideas