Cadaver Research for Scleroderma

This page was written by Shelley Ensz and Dr. James Seibold. See disclaimer.

Overview of Cadaver Research
Cadaver Research for Scleroderma

Overview of Cadaver Research

Cadaver research is basically an autopsy but with the additional intent of trying to discover more about a particular disease process.

Often, people are interested in donating their body for scientific research, in hopes that researchers can learn more about the cause(s) or effect(s) of their illness.

Cadaver research may or may not be beneficial for medical researchers, depending upon whether or not the disease process is already known and well-documented. If a person dies of a very new illness, then cadaver research may be of the most use.

It is important to know whether or not cadaver research is still being done for a particular illness before making arrangements to donate your cadaver to science, because ninety percent of cadavers are used for product testing purposes.

Many cadavers are used to crash test car safety features; heads are put into helmets and dropped to test the relative safety of helmets; and cadavers are harvested for ingredients in cosmetics. This may not be the manner in which you would like to have your corpse, or the corpse of your loved one, put to use.

Can I be an organ and tissue donor and also donate my body to medical science? Total body donation is an option, but not if you choose to be an organ and tissue donor. If you wish to donate your entire body, you should directly contact the facility of your choice to make arrangements. Medical schools, research facilities and other agencies need to study bodies to gain greater understanding of disease mechanisms in humans. This research is vital to saving and improving lives. Donate Life. (Also see: Organ Donation and Tissue Donation)

Cadaver Research for Scleroderma

By James R. Seibold, M.D., Chair of ISN Medical Advisory Board.

The question of autopsy or cadaver research for scleroderma comes up from time to time.

I respect the emotional issues and the desire to contribute, but cadaver research is almost never helpful for scleroderma, because we have a clear understanding of the later stage pathology changes. Thus, there's really no need for cadaver donations for scleroderma.

However, tissue is needed in very early stages of disease, such as lung involvement, to define the early steps in tissue injury.

Autopsy study is usually based on individual case circumstances. If the diagnosis had been unclear or if there had been experimental therapy, then the group of doctors actually involved in the care would find autopsy study helpful. (Also see: Autopsy, Scleroderma Research Registries, Tissue Donation, What is Scleroderma and Dr. James Seibold)

Cadaver Controversies and Scandals

Cadaver Controversies

The Body Brokers— Part 3: Researchers Most researchers rely on donations. Willed-body programs based at medical schools collect about 15,000 bodies annually. Roughly one body in 10 donated to willed-body programs is used for research. But each year, at least 4,000 bodies become the subjects of wide-ranging experiments, the Register found. Bodies are crashed to test vehicle air bags, heads are dropped to test helmets, and arms are dropped to test snowboard wrist braces. Lifeissues.net.

The Body Brokers, Part 1: Donors don't realize they are fueling a lucrative business. American businesses make hundreds of millions of dollars selling products crafted from donated human bodies, even though it is illegal to profit from cadaver parts, an Orange County Register investigation found. Lifeissues.com, 04-16-2000.

UCLA Cadaver Scandal

Documents: Cadavers netted hundreds of thousands. The man who allegedly illegally sold body parts from cadavers donated to UCLA apparently netted hundreds of thousands of dollars for his work, according to documents provided to CNN. CNN.com, 03-10-04.