I really don't understand how we can be the most ethical about treating people after they are dead... especially when we don't know their wishes. For example, m

I really don't understand how we can be the most ethical about treating people after they are dead... especially when we don't know their wishes. For example, my understanding is that before China was the popular source of cadavers, medical schools in the US procured their specimens from India. People routinely turned up downstream in the Ganges and their bodies would be unclaimed and at least put to some good use. If we were to bury them in a mass grave or cremate them... these would be equally offensive to many religions and yet is society really responsible for providing a plot of land in perpetuity for every single person who dies? Or more to the point... should a person's wishes be trumped by the wishes of society on their death? This kind of thing comes up (for different reasons) when discussing estate taxes and organ donation. I don't think there is a perfect answer because it depends on your politics.