Protecting Your Future

Donating Your Body To Science

As part of an elder law estate plan, many people include end of life directions, such as funeral and burial wishes, and possibly donating their bodies to science. Although most of the 170 medical schools across the country have implemented digital instruction into their anatomy labs, everyone still uses cadavers for instruction purposes.

However, donating your body for scientific research and education may be more difficult than it sounds. Some institutions require that you be within a certain driving distance or number of miles away. Others require a number of forms signed in advance by the donor, and not by a family member or even someone with a power of attorney.

The regulation of organ and body donation started in 1968 with the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, which was adopted by all states and allows any individual to sign a “document of gift” that donates organs, tissue, or the full body for transplantation, therapy, research or education. Organ donation typically receives the most press, partially because of its dramatic life-saving miracles, but also because of the federal law that requires hospitals to refer families to the federal organ procurement organization (organdonor.gov).

If you wish to donate your body to science, arrangements must typically be made with a specific school. Each school creates its own policies regarding acceptance of donated bodies. Some schools have requirements beyond those of the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act regarding who can agree to donate, how far away the body can be, and certain details regarding the type of body that is acceptable.

In addition to completing all necessary paperwork with the chosen institution for donating your body, it is also very important to communicate with your loved ones to let them know of your plans and desires, including the location of the paperwork that may be needed when the time comes.