What do hospitals do with the severed limbs?

They eat them. Mmmm, protein!

you mean besides the obvious? (the food court)

@erichw1504 I’m apparently a slower typist than someone cough jerk cough

Severed limbs act as efficient paper weights when dried out. That is all I will say.

An episode of X-Files a few years ago (obviously) suggested all organic waste goes through some sort of processing machine, which may or may not be recycled in some way safely.

TV may or may not be accurate on this one. [See “Leonard Betts”]

Someone may or may not be able to elaborate?

I don’t know, but I expect they are incinerated. This could start a movement of people wanting to keep their severed limbs (doesn’t Tom Green have his testicle in a jar somewhere?) Certainly some religious teachings would seem to suggest that you should get it and have it preserved so that it could be buried with you when you die. I think it would be fun to mount it on your wall like a moose head.

@patg7590 That’s what years of using instant messaging can do to a person

Incinerator.

Here’s what one columnist has to say. She sounds really authoritative.

After the limb is amputated, it is taken to the hospital’s pathology lab. It is kept in a freezer there until it is collected for cremation and proper disposal, according to pathologist assistant Kristin Giesen at Hennepin County Medical Center. Patients can also choose to have the limb sent to a funeral home for cremation or burial. Hospitals can only release body parts to a funeral home.

From the Minneapolis Star-Tribune

They make new people… get 2 arms, a leg or two, a head, maybe some organs… Good as new

Victor Frankenstein comes round weekly to collect them.

@daloon ROFL!! I can’t imagine anyone having a funeral for their ARM!!

When you say something might cost you “an arm and a leg,” you would be able to translate that into reality.

Here’s what to do with severed body parts.

@AstroChuck Why do you ask? Do you have plans for some body parts?

Not just plans. Evil plans!
Bwaahaahaa.

Do you want us to take up a collection for you?? Maybe we can all donate a little??

90% of hospital waste is incinerated in government approved incinerators.

@Val123 I would guess religions that forbid cremation might bury amputated limbs. I belong to one of those religions, but I have no idea the real answer, never thought about this particular question, but it stands to reason.

Soylent Green is people!

@JLeslie Oh, I didn’t think of that. I can understand it, but would they have a whole funeral for them?

@Val123 No idea. I’m guessing no. I can probably find out. If it were me, and I felt compelled to “follow” Jewish law (I put it in quotes because I am not religious, but like some of the traditions and rituals, so I might choose to follow a rule losely, my own interpretation of it, although generally I do not follow the rules) but if I decided I was against cremation for my own burial I would buy a plot, bury my leg and later when I die bury my body on top. I think the ritual of burying the limb might be good for the grieving process? So the question left is do you mark the grave? Jews, when they die, bury the body within a couple of days and then do a “unveiling” within a year. The unveiling is to unveil the tomb stone or grave marker, and the people attending would leave a stone on the marker. Usually the close family members return for the unveiling.

But we would have to ask an orthodox rabbi to get the real answer…this is just how I think of it, don’t consider my answer to be an offical Jewish answer by any means.

I have a Jewish atheist (I know!) friend…I’ll see what he says.

Let me know. I’m a Jewish atheist also, it would be interesting to see what your friend thinks.

I know! You can ask him yourself! I think he’d be tickled pink to meetcha! Come here!
http://newwisdm.ning.com/

And talk to
http://newwisdm.ning.com/profile/Benny

His real name is Stuart Foremen, but Benny Mattson has something to do with his Jewish grandfather or something. IDK.

You’re welcome to join! You can start with that Q. :)

@Val123 It’s not like being a Jewish Atheist is rare among Jews, there are bunches of us. He should probably come to fluther.

@Val123 & @JLeslie

I know! You can ask him yourself! I think he’d be tickled pink to meetcha! Come here! http://newwisdm.ning.com/

@Val123 It’s not like being a Jewish Atheist is rare among Jews, there are bunches of us. He should probably come to fluther.

is this the beginning of the q&a site wars? The Q&A site evangelizing? I mean of course other sites have been discussed before but this is heading towards straight up – playground style – team drafting is it not?

Will a day come when we have to choose a side? Or can we coexist peacefully? Can we actively participate in multiple sites honestly? Or will our hearts favorite always be trying to pull others into our favorit-est home?

@patg7590 What are you talking about?!
@JLeslie Benny was the first I’d heard about it. Just struck me as…odd! But I guess it isn’t.

@patg7590 what are you talking about? There is no war.

@Val123 Nah, I have read over the years estimates from 30–50% of Jews are atheists or at least agnostic. I tried to find a link with stats, this is all I could find http://jewishatheist.blogspot.com/2006/12/how-can-i-be-jewish-and-atheist.html I don’t know how accurate it is? Most Jews I know are atheists.

I call myself a secular Jew. This life is all I can believe in.

forget it, just really bored here; trying to strike up a debate

@patg7590 start a question.

@JLeslie Thanks. Interesting read! Benny was my first introduction to the concept and I was “WHAT?” We have a bunch of interesting conversations!

@patg7590 I see. No worries. I’ve done that before! Sometimes arguing is better than nothing! The website I suggested she could come visit is tiny. It’ll never be huge as Fluther because it’s just a NING site. There are only about 6 members who participate regularly and it can be rare if you get to engage in a real time discussion with someone. Usually you ask a question, go away for a couple of hours (as in go away to Fluther in my case,) then go check the other site. We don’t have any intentions of “recruiting” anyone, because, as I said, it’s nothing like Fluther and never could be. It’s more like leaving your mansion (Fluther) to go to a hotel for a while. I just suggested she come on over and say hi because I think she’d enjoy most of the people who are there occasionally (Matte Browne for one.) Actually, recently, it’s starting to take on geek overtones. A couple of the guys are playing chess and I’m throwing peanuts at them from the peanut gallery. You’re welcome to come say hi too! I promise we won’t brain wash you! You are getting vewy sleepy!

I think I would want my arm turned into one of those grabber gizmos….waste not want not.

OMG! Blast from da past!