I seem to hear more and more every day about how science has begun to better understand transpeople, specifically by examining their brains. This makes me curious...as I've always wanted to donate my body to science once my number is up. Is there a way to donate your body specifically to an organization that would use it to study the physiology of transfolk? It's something I really think I would like to pursue.
I'm not absolutely sure ,but I would think so. Medical schools are always looking for bodies
Professor Gooren in Holland is the foremost expert on TSism so I carry a card stating in the event of my death please ship my brain to him and his team.
I also carry a general donation card asking my body to be used for organs or to study long term effects of accidents and operations etc.
Quote from: lilacwoman on December 22, 2013, 09:30:20 AM
Professor Gooren in Holland is the foremost expert on TSism so I carry a card stating in the event of my death please ship my brain to him and his team.
I also carry a general donation card asking my body to be used for organs or to study long term effects of accidents and operations etc.
thats neat. how'd you get the card?
If you would like to donate your brain you will need to make arrangements in advance with a brain bank.
Because of how quickly the brain and organs deteriorate after death, you can either be a brain donor or an organ donor, but usually not both.
It's a race against time to see what bits they can get out and you want to make sure that they remove the brain first.
However if you do donate your brain they can usually harvest eyes, blood, skin and bone.
If you donate your body for research at a medical school your brain will not be removed at the time of death and it won't be suitable for the type of research you are hoping to participate in.
If you are still interested, here is a link to the International Brain Banking Network, www.intbbn.org/registry-of-brain-banks.aspx, and BrainNet Europe, www.brainnet-europe.org.
You'll want to pick a bank in your country and contact them to make arrangements. Pick a general brain bank like the ones at Harvard, John Hopkins or NIMH. If you donate to a bank that specifically does Alzheimer's or Cancer research then you're unlikely to end up in a gender study.
I don't think any of the banks will guarantee what research your brain will be used for, especially if you aren't planning to die right away.
Professor Gooren's team will expedite removal and delivery if you just have a card in your bag or pocket stating 'In event of my death please contact Prof Gooren etc.'
Most hospitals have facilities to remove and store items for research.
This sounds very interesting. It is really fascinating that there are people doing research in this field. I've seen some statistics about how transsexual persons brains differ from their cis-counterparts. Although it seems to me that there haven't been enough research or any full-scale test either. But if more people think like you do science will gain further knowledge about us humans.
Gooren's research is pretty conclusive that transsexuals have bits of brain that are wrong gender to the body.
I said for years that I would be cremated so I never thought about organ donation. I have changed my mind in the last several months about that and now I want to be buried. I have a few requests that I would like to be honored along with being buried. If that is actually honored will be anyone's guess. But I just changed my organ donor status so when I do kick the bucket, they can have the innards.
I've had it on my state id for about 15 years
I have thought about this