Body donation

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Body donation is the donation of the whole body after death for medical research and education. For years, only medical schools accepted whole bodies for donation. Although medical schools are still the predominant and best known organizations accepting body donations, several non-profit and for-profit organizations not associated with medical schools have sprung up across the country offering service related incentives for donation which do not require preregistration to donate. However, only the legal next-of-kin(s) of the deceased can provide the necessary consent for donation if the donor did not provide it to the specific accepting program prior to death.

Body donation is necessary to understand the human body and for advancing science. Medical schools will cover the cost of cremation or burial once the cadaver has served its medical purpose and is returned to the family for interment. Any person wishing to donate their body to any medical school may be required make prior arrangements with the local medical school or university before death. These organizations use whole embalmed bodies to teach anatomy to medical students. Individuals may request a consent form and will supply information about policies and procedures that will take place after the potential donor is deceased. Body donation is legally available with the consent of the individual prior to death or the legal next of kin after death.

Body donation is not regulated through licensure and inspection by the federal government and most states. The legal right for an individual to choose body donation is governed by the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act which has been largely adoped by most states. Laws relating to the transportation and disposition of human bodies apply.

See also

• Organ donation