Call for memorial day to raise awareness of body donation

BEIJING - A special day to honor people who donate their bodies to medical science after their death could be launched in the future to encourage more people to volunteer.

The Red Cross Society of Beijing and the Beijing Society for Anatomical Sciences are working together to establish a memorial day on the Saturday or Sunday before Qingming, or Tomb-sweeping Day, on April 5.

It is hoped the day will change traditional attitudes toward donations and ease the shortage in cadavers for medical teaching and research.