Voluntary Body Donation-Trends, People’s Perceptions, Beliefs and Practices: A Review

Abstract

The Development of basic sciences in health care field depends on a strong foundation of Anatomy. Cadavers are required for training of students of health professionals. The source of these cadavers, in earlier days, were executed criminals, unclaimed bodies and voluntary body donations. Though the most ethical way of procuring cadavers for education and research purposes is body donation, the incidence of body donations varies across the world. The reasons could be different from person to person and from region to region. Factors that influence this opinion has been shown to be spiritual, religious and cultural/traditional beliefs. Other factors which might influence the willingness to donate are age, gender, education, occupation, economy and law of the country. Spirituality with the sense of detachment and altruistic characteristics promote body donation. Age, males, education and awareness of body donation, occupation and economy also affect the intent to body donations. The health care community who understand the benefits of body donation are mostly not willing to donate because of personalized opinions of being dissected by colleagues, disrespectful behavior towards cadavers. The law of the country which encourages body donations try to address the fears and concerns of the common man to facilitate body donation. This could be in the form abiding to cremate as per his will after the utilisation of the body, written consent for the same and prioritizing his wish over others, providing due respect to the deceased in the form of memorial services, religious ceremonies and public display and honour of the donors KEYWORDS: Voluntary Body Donation, Perceptions, Beliefs, Good Cadaver Practices.