where can i donate my body after death

by Dr. Alessia Denesik IV 9 min read

In the U.S., you have the liberty to donate your body directly to the research institution or medical school of your choice, or to a third-party organization as there are many private body donation programs available. The advantage of donating through a third-party is the assurance that your body will be donated to an institution after your death.

To arrange for body donation, hospice social workers can help contact a company like Science Care, Medcure, or United Tissue Network to determine eligibility shortly before or soon after death.Oct 18, 2017

Full Answer

What are the body parts we can donate after death?

Mar 25, 2022 · In the U.S., you have the liberty to donate your body directly to the research institution or medical school of your choice, or to a third-party organization as there are many private body donation programs available. The advantage of donating through a third-party is the assurance that your body will be donated to an institution after your death.

Where are the bodies taken for burial after death?

Oct 18, 2017 · How does the body donation process work? To arrange for body donation, hospice social workers can help contact a company like Science Care, Medcure, or United Tissue Network to determine eligibility shortly before or soon after death. At the time of death, a representative will work with the next of kin to complete any authorization forms and provide transportation at …

Where does your blood go after a donation?

Science Care serves as a link between those who wish to donate their body to science, and medical researchers and educators. Cremation is provided at no cost to Science Care donors. Phone: (800) 417-3747

How much does it cost to donate your body?

After donation, partial cremated remains will be returned to the family or may be scattered at sea. By request, MedCure will also send a family letter notifying family members how you or your loved one contributed to medical science. Download MedCure Whole Body Donation Form. Call Us Now: +1-866-560-2525.

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What disqualifies you from donating your body to science?

You can be disqualified for whole body donation to science if you have an infectious or contagious disease such as HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis B or c, or prion disease. You can also be disqualified if your body was autopsied, mutilated, or decomposed. If your next of kin objects to the donation then you will be disqualified.

How do you donate your body when you die?

Registering with an anatomical institute To donate your body to medical science, you need to give consent to an anatomical institute. They will ask you for a handwritten declaration (codicil) stating that you wish your body to be donated to medical science after your death.

What is the cost of donating your body to science?

Once accepted into the Science Care program, there is no cost for the donation process, cremation, or the return of final remains.

How do you become a whole body donor?

You can register your intent for both organ donation and non-transplant donation. Science Care encourages life-saving organ donation prior to body donation to science. You will need to register for both programs separately, and let your loved ones know your wish to donate to both organizations.

What happens when you donate your body to science after death?

When you donate your body to science, there is no casket, embalming or any funeral expenses in the traditional sense. There are charges to move the body from the place of death to the medical school, to file the death certificate, to notify social security and to assist the family with scheduling any memorial services.Jan 13, 2021

Do you have a funeral if you donate your body to science?

If I donate my body, will there be a funeral or memorial service? Medical schools will usually arrange for donated bodies to be cremated, unless the family requests the return of the body for a private burial or cremation. Medical schools may also hold a committal, memorial or thanksgiving services.Jun 4, 2021

Can you donate your body to science while alive?

The body donation process goes something like this: An accredited organization or nonprofit, like a university donation program, screens potential donors while they're still alive. It's a thorough medical vetting that can include questions about past illnesses and surgeries, IV drug use, and communicable diseases.Sep 23, 2018

How many bodies are donated to science each year?

20,000 AmericansWhile no agency is charged with tracking what's known as whole-body donations, it's estimated that approximately 20,000 Americans donate their bodies to science every year. These donors give their bodies to be used to study diseases, develop new medical procedures and train surgeons and med students.Apr 30, 2019

Does science Care sell body parts?

Although the company's donor consent forms state that “Science Care is a for-profit company,” they do not explicitly disclose that bodies or parts will be sold.Oct 26, 2017

Is there a weight limit for donating your body?

Since 1969, the program at UC Davis has accepted cadavers, distributing them among University of California and California State University campuses, as well as to community colleges, private colleges, research labs and private medical companies. “We do have an upper weight limit of 250 pounds,” Dr. Davis said.Apr 30, 2020

What is a body donated to science called?

Body donation, anatomical donation, or body bequest is the donation of a whole body after death for research and education.

What happens to a body donated to medical school?

Also, bodies donated to medical schools are cremated once they are no longer needed, and the remains are often returned to their families at no expense. As of 2014, a traditional burial cost around $7,200, an increase of 29 percent from a decade earlier, according to the National Funeral Directors Association.Aug 17, 2016

Why do people donate their bodies after death?

Why donate your body after death? Body donation after death gives the donor and their family the chance to benefit others by contributing to life-saving research and education. Many medical breakthroughs have occurred thanks to individuals who allowed their bodies to be used for research after death. In addition, body donation can eliminate the ...

How long does it take to get cremated remains back?

This service is typically provided at no cost to the family and can take anywhere from 3 to 12 weeks. At Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care, a social worker can assist patients and their families with making arrangements for body donation after death.

Can you donate a body to science?

In addition, body donation can eliminate the costs associated with a traditional burial. When a body is donated to science, most organizations will offer the option of having cremated remains returned to the family at no cost.

Is it a good idea to donate organs after death?

Organ donation has become a well-known practice, and many families find it comforting to know that their loved one’s organs are helping another person live. Body donation after death is less frequently discussed, but the benefits to the scientific and medical research community can be just as substantial.

What is body donation?

Body donation to science is a way to leave your mark on the world. The gift of donation allows medical researchers and educators to practice, learn, and create new techniques that continue to improve and save lives. Learn about body donation.

What is science care?

Science Care is a body donation to science program that helps future generations through improved scientific research and education.

How to accept a whole body donation?

Mayo Clinic's procedure for accepting a whole-body donation begins with notification of a donor's death. A health care representative from the hospital, medical facility or hospice organization where the death occurs should contact Mayo Clinic's donor program coordinator. The coordinator will review acceptance protocol to determine if the donation can be accepted. If the potential donor meets the acceptance criteria, the next of kin will be contacted to determine if whole-body donation should proceed. Transportation of the body to Mayo Clinic will then be arranged.

Does Mayo Clinic pay for body donation?

There is no payment for body donation, as explicitly stated by law in every state. Mayo Clinic has limited funds to reimburse transportation expenses for a whole-body donation. Any expenses beyond the fund limit are the responsibility of the donor's estate. If the donor dies out of state and the cost of transporting the body to Mayo Clinic is too ...

Does Mayo Clinic accept power of attorney?

Mayo Clinic no longer accepts power of attorney, next of kin, and guardian or conservator signatures on behalf of a potential donor. The gift of whole-body donation is authorized by the individual, but the legal next of kin is responsible for carrying out the donor's wishes.

How long does it take to get cremated remains back?

Final Arrangements. Cremated remains are returned to the family within 8 - 12 weeks or may be scattered at sea. A certified death certificate is provided to the family or estate. “I have always wanted to ‘give back’ and this is the perfect way.

What do we know about the human body?

Everything we know about the human body comes from studying whole body donors. At MedCure, we connect you or your loved ones to the physicians, surgeons, and researchers who are continuing this vital work. Their discoveries and innovations help people live longer, make treatments less invasive, and create new ways to prevent illness or disease.

What is a Medcure?

MedCure is your first call at the time of passing and will work with a local funeral home on your behalf. After donation, partial cremated remains will be returned to the family or may be scattered at sea. By request, MedCure will also send a family letter notifying family members how you or your loved one contributed to medical science.

Does Medcure require a pre-screening?

MedCure offers a pre-screening program for patients who are receiving hospice care or who have been given a life expectency of 6 months or less. While it isn’t necessary for your loved one to complete the screening ahead of time, it does make the call to MedCure at the time of passing much easier on the family.

How Does One Donate Their Body To Science?

Body donation for medical research and education is becoming more popular for people wanting an alternative to funeral or cremation costs. They may wonder “How do I donate my body to medical science?” The process begins with requesting our pre-registration forms and information.

How Does One Donate Their Body To Science When Death Is Near?

If a loved one is near death or on hospice, call us at 866-670-1799 24 hours a day to discuss your options.

The Donation Process

Once you made your wishes known and pre-registered, then nothing else is necessary until your death, at which time your next-of-kin should contact BioGift immediately. Please let your next of kin know if you are placed on hospice or go into the hospital with an illness or situation that could cause your death, contact us immediately.

Finishing The Donation Process

The donation process takes approximately eight to twelve weeks to conclude. By this time, the family or next-of-kin will have received the cremated remains, and two certified copies of the death certificate.

Why do people donate their organs?

For those who do the latter, it's often because the life of someone they care about (or their own) was saved with medical technology or a certain procedure.

Who is Marsha Durkin?

Marsha Durkin is a Registered Nurse and Laboratory Information Specialist for Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Illinois. She received her Associates Degree in Nursing from Olney Central College in 1987. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 82 testimonials and 94% ...

Can you specify what kind of studies your body will be used for?

You cannot specify what kinds of studies your body will be used for. Anatomical study through dissection is not always the case. Researchers in criminal forensics, for example, may expose cadavers to various environments in order to observe how they decompose. Make sure you research these possibilities and concerns before you make your decision.

Can you donate your body to science?

Nope! Donating your organs to the transplant list is much more straightforward, but when you donate your body to science, you won't know exactly how your body will be used. As you research facilities, be sure to ask how most donated bodies are used.

Where is the body of the sailor buried?

Following use of the body for teaching, the remains are cremated and either inurned in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis or, upon request, returned to the family.

When was the Anatomical Education Program created?

The Anatomical Education Program was created in 1903 by the Indiana General Assembly to ensure the quality of education for medical, dental, and allied health students across the State of Indiana. This program is administered by Indiana University School of Medicine and is authorized to provide for the acquisition and distribution ...

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Body Donation Procedure

  • Mayo Clinic's procedure for accepting a whole-body donation begins with notification of a donor's death. A health care representative from the hospital, medical facility or hospice organization where the death occurs should contact Mayo Clinic's donor program coordinator. The coordinator will review acceptance protocol to determine if the donation can be accepted. If the potential do…
See more on mayoclinic.org

Criteria and Considerations For Donation

  • Age
    Prospective donors should not consider themselves too old for whole-body donation. Unlike most organ donation programs, age is rarely a factor in whole-body donation.
  • Whole-body donation after organ donation
    An individual might not be eligible for whole-body donation after an organ donation. Mayo Clinic's donor program coordinator will consult with the organ donation organization to evaluate the potential for whole-body donation acceptance.
See more on mayoclinic.org

Denial of A Donation

  • Mayo Clinic might not accept a bequest if: 1. The potential donor has an infectious or a contagious disease (such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B or hepatitis C, or prion diseases) 2. The next of kin objects to the donation of the body 3. The body is not acceptable for anatomical study (extremely emaciated or extremely obese) 4. The body has been autopsied or mutilated or is de…
See more on mayoclinic.org

Payment

  • There is no payment for body donation, as explicitly stated by law in every state. Mayo Clinic has limited funds to reimburse transportation expenses for a whole-body donation. Any expenses beyond the fund limit are the responsibility of the donor's estate. If the donor dies out of state and the cost of transporting the body to Mayo Clinic is too expensive, the next of kin can contact a n…
See more on mayoclinic.org

How Does One Donate Their Body to Science?

  • Body donation for medical research and education is becoming more popular for people wanting an alternative to funeral or cremation costs. They may wonder “How do I donate my body to medical science?” The process begins with requesting our pre-registration forms and information. You can visit our Get Startedpage to request a package by mail or download the PDF packet. Yo…
See more on biogift.org

How Does One Donate Their Body to Science When Death Is Near?

  • If a loved one is near death or on hospice, call us at 866-670-1799 24 hours a day to discuss your options.
See more on biogift.org

The Donation Process

  • Once you made your wishes known and pre-registered, then nothing else is necessary until your death, at which time your next-of-kin should contact BioGift immediately. Please let your next of kin know if you are placed on hospice or go into the hospital with an illness or situation that could cause your death, contact us immediately. A representative from BioGift will go through a medic…
See more on biogift.org

Finishing The Donation Process

  • The donation process takes approximately eight to twelve weeks to conclude. By this time, the family or next-of-kin will have received the cremated remains, and two certified copies of the death certificate. BioGift will then send the family or next-of-kin follow up correspondence about donation, and your last charitable effort will be finished. If you want to know even more about fu…
See more on biogift.org