Flutterby™! : dying isn't easy, comedy is still hard

Next unread comment / Catchup all unread comments User Account Info | Logout | XML/Pilot/etc versions | Long version (with comments) | Weblog archives | Site Map | | Browse Topics

dying isn't easy, comedy is still hard

2006-05-23 19:37:01.890414+00 by Dan Lyke 5 comments

In light of the discussion about evidence-based medicine and a few other things that are going on in my life (Charlene's biological mom has had a close-call which, in a merciful world, would have taken her, and there's now a lot of "how do we arrange for ...?" questions raised), it seems a reasonable thing to make plans for my eventual demise. Not that I'm expecting it any time soon, but when it does I'd like to be remembered fondly.

So, I've often said that I'd like my body to be used by medical students for practical jokes, but where does one start to investigate ways to dispose of a body so that it'll be of most use to the world, and be least likely to allow the funeral industry to suck any other assets from causes that I might actually like my resources to support? And, short of tattooing "do not resuscitate" on my chest, what's a good resource for putting together a living will?

[ related topics: Health Law ]

comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):

#Comment Re: made: 2006-05-23 19:44:36.242201+00 by: ziffle

Well put in your will "To All my children I give ..." That will keep them busy :)

#Comment Re: made: 2006-05-23 20:11:07.350057+00 by: meuon

Seriously, options in California are probably a little different, but I would expect pre-arranged/pre-paid legal minimum body disposal services are available. As for the living will, there are probably some non-profit volunteer groups dedicated to such things with a different bent than your local lowyer. I'll bet your local hospital will know who/where/how to contact them. And you'll probably want to run it by a lawyer to make sure it's legal.

I'm thinking a small urn with embedded system with face detection and voice synthesis software that spurts out things like:

"Hi Ziffle! They have a spot here for you. Boy is it Hot! I was just taking the tour Cheshire Cat, not staying..."

"Tom, you were right, God does look like a Giant Tortoise wearing pink furry bunny slippers..with the face of Larry Harvey"

#Comment Re: made: 2006-05-24 00:10:44.606271+00 by: Dan Lyke

Meuon, of course I should have checked there first: Kaiser Permanente gives instructions on how to find the info on their site, go to Kaiser Permanente, click on "search", type in "advance directive", get 7 page form with checkboxes and multiple choice (not linking to it because it may be customized to region).

#Comment Re: made: 2006-05-24 00:53:12.654594+00 by: Diane Reese

I rather like the concept of Eternal Reefs. Take the parts someone else can use, cremate what's left and form it into a coral reef equivalent.

#Comment Re: made: 2006-05-24 13:55:11.138484+00 by: DaveP

Have you checked nolo?