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Organ
& Body Donation.
A
Final Gift
Death provides many of us with a one-time chance to make a valuable
gift to humanity. All major religions approve of body and organ donation
for medical and dental teaching, research, and transplants. According
to public opinion polls, most people believe that such donations are
desirable.
Organ
Donation
With the advances in medical science in the last decade, organ transplants
have become fairly common. Organ donation at a time of death is a gift
of life or sight to the recipient. Circumstances surrounding death may
limit this option, yet the corneas of even elderly donors will be grateful
accepted. If your wish is to aid the living with an organ donation,
make sure your next-of-kin and your physician know your preference.
This intent should be noted on any medical or hospital records, too.
A body from which organs have been removed will not be accepted for
medical study.
Body
Donation
Medical schools have an ongoing need of bodies for teaching and research.
The need may be especially urgent at osteopathic and chiropractic schools.
No medical school buys bodies, but there is usually little or no expense
for the family when death occurs. Therefore, if you live in an area
where low-cost funeral options do not exist, body donation may be an
economical as well as thoughtful and generous choice.
Most medical
schools pay for nearby transportation as well as embalming and final
disposition. The School may have a contract with a particular firm for
transporting bodies, so it is important to inquire about the specific
arrangements to be used at the time of death in order to avoid added
costs. After medical study, the body is usually cremated, with burial
or scattering in a university plot. Often the cremains or remains can
be returned to the family for burial within a year or two. This request
should be made known at the time of donation. Some medical schools require
that a donor register before death. However, in many cases, next-of-kin
may make the bequest without prior arrangement.
Funeral
Plans
Because it is important for the medical school to start preservation
as soon after death as possible, a memorial service is most appropriate
for those planning on body donation. Alternative plans for body disposition
should be discussed with your family. A few schools take care of disposition
regardless of condition at the time of death, in fulfillment of their
contract with a donor. Most medical schools, however, follow guidelines
in the acceptance of a body. If death occurs at the time of surgery,
for example, the body would not be accepted for study. Certain diseases,
as well as obesity, make a body unsuitable. Some medical schools may
not have an immediate need and have no provision for storage or for
sharing with another university.
What if
there is no medical school in my state? Ever since 1975, the National
Anatomical Service has been in the business of procuring and transporting
cadavers for various medical schools. NAS is aware of the schools with
the greatest need. NAS can be called from anywhere in the United States
(1-800-727-0700). Headquarters are in New York, with 24-hour phone coverage.
Arrangements for refrigeration will be made by the service with a local
mortuary until transportation is provided. In some cases, the receiving
medical school pays storage and transportation costs. In other cases,
the family may be asked to pay from $150 to $600, depending on the distance
to be shipped. For those who live in a state with no medical school
(Alaska, Delaware, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming), or in states where all
medical schools require prior enrollment (Arizona, Nebraska, Nevada,
South Carolina and Wisconsin), this service will be of benefit to next-of-kin
wishing to make a body donation. If the medical school of your first
choice is not in need at the time of your death, you might consider
this service as an additional option in your funeral planning.
Provisions
When Traveling
There will be special considerations if death occurs while you are traveling
and you planned on body donation. If you are a great distance from the
medical school of your choice, should your family bear the cost of transporting
your body there, or may the nearest university be contacted? The need
for cadavers in some foreign countries is even greater than in the U.S.
For example, in Argentina 200 medical students must share a cadaver.
International shipping of scientific cadavers is not allowed. A private
individual's body may be shipped to another country if placed in a hermetically
sealed container. If death were to occur abroad, do you wish your survivors
to inquire about the local need for bodies or organs to fulfill the
intent of your anatomical bequest? Be sure to note your preference on
the Uniform Donor Card you carry.
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