ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) - The University of South Dakota program that provides human bodies to schools for anatomy and physiology classes is facing a severe shortage of donors.
Sara Bird, who coordinates the program, told the Aberdeen American News that the program needs 60-65 human bodies to be donated every year to fulfill all requests. She said the program had just 36 bodies at the start of the 2018-19 school year.
The shortage of donations means the program has had to turn away schools, limit requests and reduce the number of students in programs, including at the University of South Dakota, Bird said.
“We understand that this isn’t just about USD and our medical school. It’s about giving students a strong foundation in whatever anatomy course they are trying to access,” she said. “We just try the best we can.”
People with diseases such as cancer cannot donate organs, but they can still donate their bodies for teaching purposes, Bird said.
“This could be that Plan B and a way for that person to still be able to give back,” she said.
Conditions that could prohibit a body donation include morbid obesity, organ donation beyond the eyes, transmittable diseases such as HIV or chronic hepatitis, and severe trauma.
Trisha Waldman, associate dean of health and natural science at Presentation College, said there is an average of five or six anatomy and physiology labs per semester with 16 students in each lab. The school receives two cadavers per year.
“The generous donation of one’s body allows medical professionals to gain hands-on experience understanding human anatomy and physiology and the ability to learn and practice skills on human tissue. Most individuals who have sought medical care have benefited from a doctor or health professional who was able to learn utilizing a cadaver,” Waldman said.
Bodies remain in the program for about two years before being cremated. Ashes are then either returned to the family or buried at Bluffview Cemetery in Vermillion.
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Information from: Aberdeen American News, http://www.aberdeennews.com
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