I'll Take Compost

[annuin]

Assuming I live long enough that this is at least introduced as a method of processing one's dead body (and with Australia and the Netherlands both having inquired after the process, that might be the case), sign me up.

http://www.promessa.se/index_en.asp

Sounds perfect. None of that embalming formaldehyde crap, no expensive caskets with useless satin lining and padding for that comfort I no longer need, no charring my remains and have my brain explode a hole in my skull in the process, no taking up a useless slot of space in a cemetery, no polluting the ground water or air with either process. And one can finally go back to the earth as was intended.

And for the symbolism, one can live on in the plant or tree which gets planted with you.

Comments

[catdraco.livejournal.com]

I think it's a great idea. I decided years ago, though, that I want my body donated to medical science. Well, no - I want what's left after everything possible is harvested for transplant to go to medical science. I want every part of my body possible to be used in a productive fashion.

Still, if there are toenails left over or something, that'd be a great way to dispose of them. =)

[tanthe.livejournal.com]

If you want to know the possible uses for your body when you're donated to medical science, check out Stiff, the book that I recommended/reviewed in my previous entry ;)

It's quite fascinating.

As for organ harvesting, unless you die relatively young, I'm not sure they harvest too much from you. I got the impression that this was often something that happened when you were young-ish, and of course in great health. But I could be mistaken, the book didn't really contain anything about the particular requirements of an organ donor (or "beating-heart cadaver").

[catdraco.livejournal.com]

I think it depends on a lot of things. Organ donation is best from young, healthy people, but I think some other body parts (like corneas) can be transplanted regardless of age, as long as they're healthy. In any case, I consider being cut up by med students to be very productive, and if my whole body goes down that path, that's great. *grin*

Yeah, I read your review of Stiff, and I'm definitely interested. =)

[tanthe.livejournal.com]

Chopped up by med students isn't how most donated cadavers end up.

And I doubt you'd be an anatomy lab cadaver if you've been harvested for organs.

[catdraco.livejournal.com]

I'm sure I can write various clauses into my will, and share the info with the pertinent family and friends beforehand. I'm fine with being mulched for tissue experiments, dissolved into my component parts, and whatever else anyone can come up with - as long as it's in the pursuit of medical knowledge I don't mind. Actually, I doubt I'd mind much in any case at that stage... but you know what I mean.

My point of view is really that my body is not me - I view death as a kind of "moving out". I don't care what happens to a house I move out of. Same goes for my physical structure, though I'd prefer it to be used in a constructive fashion rather than wasted, if at all possible. =)

[tanthe.livejournal.com]

From what I gathered in the book, you can state certain things that you absolutely don't want your body used for, but other than that once it's dedicated to medical science, it goes where it's needed. Which can be a variety of things. Many of which are documented in the book, some more mindboggling than others, but all have their place.

And I definitely don't see my body as me when I die, and the odds of my donating parts once deceased are high... I don't smoke or drink, so odds are good that I'll have something usable, but I guess the rest can go become plant fodder :) Which is a concept I like, from a personal and ecological standpoint, and I think it also gives remaining relatives and friends a little reminder as well I guess.

[vgnwtch.livejournal.com]

I'm torn between those two options - plant a bush or tree on me, or send me to the lab? Maybe send me to the lab, and then plant a bush or tree on me. That would be cool.

[octopusgrrl.livejournal.com]

I personally have no real feelings as to how I'd like my body processed after death - all I know is that "I" won't be there anymore, so people can dispose of the fleshy bit whichever way is easiest for them to deal with. I like the idea of a plain pine or cardboard coffin (http://www.livinglegacies.co.nz/coffins.html) in a plot overlooking the sea (there's a lovely cemetery just up the road from here that has a great view (http://www.novena.gen.nz/ljpiccies/cemetary.jpg)) once any viable parts were harvested, but the Promessa thing sound really neat. Here's hoping society will get past their squeamishness about body disposal before we're too much older :)

[tanthe.livejournal.com]

Thing is, regular burial and cremation are also pretty horrific. Whilst I'm sure calling it composting doesn't sound too appealing to many people, if you were to really think through the realities of cremation or burial, then composting is the least horrific one of them really.

But then, you read Stiff too, which is where the idea for Promessa was introduced (to me), and she also explained that as well.

And I do really hope that they get past their squeamishness, and also that people might start to think about more environmentally friendly methods of disposal.