I’ve had this question for a while but never wanted the answer bc being unanswered made it a fascinating topic. But now I kind wanna know lol.

Please don’t turn the comment section into anything controversial people.

  • TheFogan@programming.dev
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    24 hours ago

    from my understanding it’s usually donated to medical research, but due to some anti-abortion rhetoric falsely producing fake stories of them being sold, it’s otherwise discarded as medical waste.

      • TheFogan@programming.dev
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        23 hours ago

        I’m far from an expert on the topic, I believe things like unused tissue (IE also things like amputated limbs, bad organs etc…) is more or less cremated.

      • neidu3@sh.itjust.works
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        23 hours ago

        Burnt in dedicated incinerators. Some hospitals have these as a means of disposing of tissue after surgeries.

        • LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world
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          3 hours ago

          Jeez, the level of stoicism, emotional detachment the hospital workers must master. I also imagine they would delegate the task to someone else so it’s not like the doctor is throwing fetus in the trash, he delegates it to someone else who does not have all the information and does not know what they’re disposing of. Less emotionally traumatizing for everybody that way.

          • sad_detective_man@sopuli.xyz
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            7 hours ago

            I find the most effective way of handling grisly work like that is emotionally embracing the function of what you’re doing. You can care for the lives of the deceased and love your work without having to play stoic mindfuck games with yourself.

            Alternatively, many drink. Or reduce humanity in their minds to a state of matter. Vulnerability is hard and most employers will only exploit it anyway

          • Squirrelsdrivemenuts@lemmy.world
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            9 hours ago

            i imagine cremating fetusses is one of the lesser emotionally traumatizing things hospital workers have to deal with every day.

            Also, if the fetus is big enough to be (near) viable and the abortion happens for medical reasons or in case of stillbirths, I hope/expect parents are given the option for a proper burial.

    • SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca
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      7 hours ago

      A cell line derived from an aborted fetus in the late 80s is now the basis for most good cell biology and disease related research. It’s also the base line for synthesis of vaccines and biologic drugs. But, we are limited to this one line from one lab in Canada that has been commercialized by one company in California.

      Huge waste of research potential to make the lives of all people better.