5 Questions: Mathers on body donations
An occasional feature in which a School of Medicine expert answers five questions on a science or policy topic of interest to the Stanford community

1. What were your first thoughts when you heard about what happened at UCLA?

Mathers: My first reaction was one of real concern for the integrity of anatomy donation programs. I was saddened to think that people who are entrusted with this very precious gift were led to behavior that's clearly unacceptable.

2. A few medical schools are eliminating cadaver dissection as a requirement for becoming a doctor. Instead, they are substituting computer simulations and other alternatives. What best equips medical students for the demands of their profession?

Mathers: We remain convinced that a unique and important piece of students' education is derived from the direct study of the human body, with students actually performing the dissection and learning in a way that no written page, photograph or computer can replace.

3. UCLA has suspended their program in the wake of a criminal investigation. Are you concerned that the national prominence of this story will decrease willed body donations?

Mathers: I'm very concerned that that may happen. So far, we have not had any phone calls indicating concern on the part of the 4,000 to 5,000 people who have registered their intent to donate. But it is a very serious problem and could have negative impact on this area of medical education.

4. What are some of the biggest myths about willed body programs?

Mathers: Probably the most consistent misunderstanding is that people can be paid for the donation of their body. It is a donation; it is against the law for anyone, including us, to profit from the traffic of human remains. We do, however, cover the funeral and interment expenses for the donor -- which is an important piece in the minds of some donors. But apart from that there can be no financial reward.

5. Why should someone donate his or her body to science?

Mathers: Because in the area of medical education and certain areas of medical research, the value of being able to work with human bodies is unique and cannot be replaced with other technologies. We have made promises to our donors and their families that these bodies will be respected and treated with dignity and honor. Our students are absolutely wonderful in maintaining this kind of attitude toward the cadavers, and I think donors and their families would be proud to see how their precious gift adds so much to the education of future doctors.