Donating One's Body to Science
Donating One's Body to Science Save Email Print
Posted: 10:43 PM Dec 2, 2008
 Last Updated: 10:43 PM Dec 2, 2008
 Reporter: Bill Murray
Email Address: bill.murray@wsaz.com
11 comments
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Donating one's body to science -- it was a request of former West Virginia Gov. Cecil Underwood who died last week.

The Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University accepted Underwood's body as part of the human gift registry program.

It's a program available in all three medical schools in the state, representing a lasting gift that helps the doctors of tomorrow treat and cure the living.

Underwood's late wife, Hovah, also donated her body to science. The Underwoods have requested markers be placed in Tyler and Calhoun counties with the inscription: "They gave their lives to service and their bodies at death to science."

It's not just at Marshall University where future doctors of tomorrow
can benefit from your donation. West Virginia University and the Osteopathic School in Lewisburg also take donations.

For more about this story, including comments from medical students, click on the video link above.
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Posted by: Philip on Dec 6, 2008 at 04:05 PM
JUST ME, you're an idiot.
Posted by: mom on Dec 4, 2008 at 08:26 PM
what do they do with the rest of your body when they are done with it.. throw you in the garbage.. i think they should cremate it and give it to the families
Posted by: billy on Dec 4, 2008 at 08:25 PM
both my parent are gone now and i have never been married my so called brothers and sisters dont know if i am dead or alive i think i will donate my body to medical science and maybe help someone
Posted by: JUST ME on Dec 4, 2008 at 07:08 PM
I WANT TO MEET GOD.NO WAY WOULD I EVER THINK ABOUT DONATIONING MY BODY!
Posted by: Willie on Dec 4, 2008 at 08:56 AM
Really nice piece on former Governor Underwood's contribution to the living after his death. Two REALLY NICE people in Cecil and Hova and selfless contributors and leaders even in their deaths. WELL DONE!
Posted by: R E HOGSTEN on Dec 3, 2008 at 04:37 PM
IN REGARDS TO THE BODY DONATION PROGRAM MARSHALL IS DOING THINGS RIGHT.HERE IN TAMPA THIS PAST YEAR THE MED. PROGRAM IN LAKELAND FL DISPOSED OF BODY PARTS BY PUTTING THEM IN GARBAGE BAGS AND BELEIVE IT OR NOT THOSE BODY PARTS ENDED UP FALLING OF A TRUCK AND WAS FOUND BY MOTORIST ON INTERSTATE 4 TRUE STORY.....
Posted by: KL on Dec 3, 2008 at 04:07 PM
They can take anything they want. I won't need it anymore. Besides, funerals are extremely too expensive. Why waste all of that money on someone who won't know the difference. Donating my body, not just a few pieces, can help a lot of people and that will be the best "End of the Story" anyone could ever provide.
Posted by: JUST ME on Dec 3, 2008 at 02:03 PM
WOW. THAT IS VERY COOL THAT HE WOULD DO THAT. OUR STUDENTS NEED TO HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE. AWESOME MAN....IN LIFE AND DEATH.
Posted by: Cabell County on Dec 3, 2008 at 10:30 AM
It was my understanding recently that the med school wasn't accepting donations at this time. Is that the case?
Posted by: Herb on Dec 3, 2008 at 09:00 AM
A very noble and selfless act. The Underwoods served this State and her people so well in life, and now in death. Just wonder why Marshall University could not take a moment and recognize the Governor at the basketball and football games this past weekend. Even with this news release, still not a word at the game last night. Should there be a moment of silence for each MU supporter that passes, tough to do; actually impossible. How about it President Kopp, Kayo Marcum, and the rest - why didn't you observe a moment of silence for the Governor?
Posted by: Sue on Dec 3, 2008 at 12:01 AM
My entire family is donating their bodies to science. I mean you are no longer there so what's the point. In our culture we pay alot of attention to the dead. We need to pay more attention to those who have been left behind and to celebrate life.
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The Yell: Comments for the Week of 1/4
  • Posted By: Fixed that for you: Any one who is paid by the general public, us, should have no problem taking urine tests. After all they are in the pubic debt for paying them. Its simple NO TEST, NO CHECK. This is not an attempt to violate rights, it is an attempt to enforce the publics right for our money to go to people in government and on welfare who can be TRUSTED.
  • Posted By: Chris to WSAZ: To all the workers and employees of WSAZ: Thank you for being there and allowing comments about the news.Our family watch only WSAZ news and enjoy each of you. I know that the recognition that you receive is little to none,but you deserve better.This goes out to the producers,cameramen,to everyone behind the scenes and the ones that are seen too. Thank you for having the best news program available to the public. God Bless Each and Everyone of You. Chris
  • Posted By: redbaron: in response to pablo on comment dated 01/06 - EXCUSE ME!! I do believe FIREFIGHTERS also risk their lives for total strangers and no they are NOT law enforcement!
  • Posted By: omg: I am so sick and tired of hearing how public school teachers are indebted to the public for their salary. Many of you are so freakin nosey that if your neighbor stopped too fast, you'd have to get a crane to remove your head from their rear. I am so tired of this drug test line. Teachers deserve to pee in peace and so do you. Why should teachers be forced to have their personal lives paraded all over the news? That is exactly what would happen. If a typical joe blow got fired from the coal mines for drugs, it wouldn't make front page news. A teacher being fired for drugs would. You people expect teachers to be the mother, father, grandparent, clergyman, counselor, as well as the teacher. You don't do anything with your kids but expect the teacher to fix all the problem you create. Some of them probably need drugs by the time they are done raising your spoiled kids who think the world owes them something on a silver platter. Take your own drug test before you get pregnant.
  • Posted By: Sophie: Re: The student (Hinzman?) being expelled for using foul language after being bullied & beaten on school grounds; you should not have been expelled for expressing your hurt, anger & disgust. You were a victim and did nothing. It is unreasonable to punish the victim - so what if he cussed - I'd cuss too if someone beat the beegeebers out of me. The kid who beat you should receive jail time & counciling; the kid who filmed you & released it on U-Tube should too. It has often been said that television is desensitizing our children so badly they have no empathy for others. This is a prime example. I hope the school board will have enough common sense to clear this victims school record of the incident as he should not have been expelled, and get him counciling also as such a trauma will surly have an effect on a young life.
  • Posted By: Boyd: Any one who is employed and gets paid by the general public, us, should have no problem taking urine tests. After all they are in the pubic debt for paying them for their work. Its simple NO TEST, NO JOB. This is not an attempt to violate rights, it is an attempt to enforce the publics right for federal, state and municipal employees who can be TRUSTED.
  • Posted By: George: As a parent I have no problem being drug tested. I'll stand in line right behind Katy.
  • Posted By: goodorbad: I look at it like this-if you dont have anything to hide, shut up and do the test!
  • Posted By: Rick: I think all teachers should be drug tested, I drive a transit bus for our county and I want the public to know I am drug free and teachers should want everyone to know the same, that their children are not in the care of people on drugs,if you have nothing to hide why object to random testing I know I don't
  • Posted By: Tea: I can't even imagine that our teachers have not been drug tested up until this time. Anyone who refuses should be fired. These are our children!!! People take drug test when they don't even work with people, let alone children. These are government jobs and we should have a say in what they have to do.
  • Posted By: Ari: Cheers to Rob-I feel ya!
  • Posted By: joe: I have worked for companies all over this nation and have had to take drug tests. Why should teachers be exempt from this practice? It is now common to be randomly tested(and I have been) so what makes a teacher any different than a steel worker. I can say proudly that I passed but I have seen those who didn't. They chose to use drugs and lost their jobs I didn't.
  • Posted By: Katy: As a teacher, I have no problem being randomly drug tested...as long as you agree to drug test the parents who enter the doors of my school as well. Most teachers deal with students who are exposed to/use more drugs and alcohol than any of the teachers. If these students or parents who are using drugs (and are not drug tested) enter our schools, the safety of the teachers and students are at risk. Since children spend more time with them, let's randomly drug test PARENTS, too!!!
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  • Posted By: Pablo: Teachers aren't the only ones underpaid. Law enforcement officers are underpaid also. And I'd like to speak about them. For example, I'm sure any parent would sacrifice their live for thier children. And several may give thier live to save their spouse. A few individuals may even do it for a close friend. But, I only know of 3 types of beings who will sacrifice thier lives for complete strangers; indeed even for people who hate them. The first would be our men and women in our armed forces. The second would be our law enforcement officers. And of course, third would be our Savior, Jesus Christ. Others are killed in the line of their employment, but not in order to save a complete stranger. Everytime a cop puts on his/her uniform, they can be a target for anyone upset about something. Even though it doesn't involve the cop personally, that very cop will give his life to save yours when a problem arises. We need to give our cops not only a wage, but a living wage and a great big THANKS.
  • Posted By: Craig: If what I am hearing is correct that Kanawha County teachers accepted a pay raise in return for submitting to drug testing, and then sued successfully so they do not have to be subject to testing, then why shouldn't we the taxpayers demand they return the raise?
  • Posted By: teresa: racist lmao i am one cherokee,german,irish,german,and who knows what else TIRED of hearing of racist comments u are either GOOD OR BAD k no skin color needed just evil or NOT
  • Posted By: Ex-Officer: I agree with Robert 100% I worked in law enforcement and loved the job but try to rise a family on less than 10.00 an hour (out of that pay for your own duty gear and gun). I believe that all public safety workers should be drug tested but i also believe that they should be paid for the job that they do. Not many people understand what a public safty worker goes through. Would you put your life on the line for this kind of pay? Remember the saying that you get what you pay for. I see this in several new officers in my area. Don't get me wrong there are still very good officers in law enforcement. Something really needs to be done about the low pay for these jobs.
  • Posted By: Garland: What's the difference between teachers and other workers(coal mineers, bus drivers, state employees,etc.)? Teachers aren't any better are they?
  • Posted By: : This is not a comment, but I would like comments on it please. What do you think of Poca High School? Racist or not?
  • Posted By: Robert: We the people, through our own self centeredness and apathy, have allowed our teachers and police officials to be some of the most underpaid people in the United States. We are trusting our childrens education and our public safety to the very people that are some of the most underpaid profesions in the U.S.. If I could change this, I would. However, I do believe that these people should be randomly drug tested. I work in the construction industry and I have no problem being drug tested. I have nothing to hide. I also believe that any person who is intrusted with the safety of others should have nothing to hide. This includes plitical officials up to and including the president.
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