1. STIFF ~ ONE & INTRODUCTION - A HEAD IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE - (October 21st – October 27th) ~ (9-33) ~ No-Spoilers, please

[Peter]

Here's a question:

How many of you have signed your organ donor card? I have.

If not, why not?

(Then let's ask again at the end of the book).

[Peter]

Yeah, I am one of the people who have already read the book. I will avoid spoilers.

I agree with Roach's feelings about her mother's cadaver. I felt that way about relatives who had died, and that is my feeling about death in general - when you are dead, you are gone.

[Kressel]

In answer to question three, I think the objectifying is probably necessary, as is all the humor. The book itself is pretty funny, which it has to be for people to enjoy it. Otherwise, it would just be all gore and morbidity.

A teenage girl in my town recently died of cancer. It was said of her that she was really upbeat, making jokes, and helping other patients. I wondered how she could possibly make jokes with a death sentence over her at such a young age, but I suppose it's the same mechanism that these doctors use.

[Whitney]

In answer to question three, I think if you worked with cadavers frequently, or to help your career(e.g. surgeons in chapter 1 learning new cosmetic surgery techniques) you would have to find a way of coping while you worked with a cadaver.

I do think it is important to remember the humanity of the cadavers. On page 32 the author's discussion with the surgeon Marilena is important. "She worries about the lack of respect surgeons showed the cadavers. One of her concerns was taking photographs without permission, because the person cannot consent as they are dead." Perhaps that could be part of the donation form?

I think it is important to remember a person donated themselves to better our understanding of science, and should be able to expect a certain level of respectful behavior towards their body.

[Teri]

Peter wrote: "Here's a question:

How many of you have signed your organ donor card? I have.

If not, why not?

(Then let's ask again at the end of the book)."

I haven't, for the main reason that I have survived cancer twice and assumed that after chemo/radiation that my parts won't be wanted. I am not sure I expected that cadavers were used in other ways, like is discussed in this first chapter.

I still don't know that I would. It kind of goes back to the questions that Kathy posted about being polite in reference to death (Q1). It seems "impolite" to change ones body if they have not given their consent (i.e. opt out/in for organ donation during their lifetime). I think for me, it's hard to mentally separate the persons soul/spirit from their body. I know the body is just the physical shell, but it is still hard to think of their body being cut into or separated and not think it's disturbing their spirit. With that said, I appreciate those that make the choice to be a donor. I think it's an individual choice.

I guess I would have thought that with our technology, "dummies" could be created that would be life like enough to do practicums, but I guess there is nothing like the real thing.