We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How do I Donate my Body to Science?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 8,594
Share

The process involved in donating a body to science is relatively simple. Scientific institutions have a pressing need for anatomical donations to conduct research, train the next generation of scientists, and do things like conducting safety tests. Donating a body to science allows someone to contribute to society after death.

Many nations have laws providing for body donation, such as the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act in the United States. It is generally not legal to sell bodies or body parts, although the recipient of the body will handle expenses associated with storage and disposition of the body. Family members or the estate will still be charged for things like medical care before death, and sometimes for the transport of the body as well.

One option is to opt to donate a body to a specific institution. People can call or write research institutions or universities to ask about their willed body program, or they can do a search for a region and “willed body program” to see which programs are available in their area. As a general rule, such programs prefer anatomical gifts which are near by, so that they can transport the body quickly. For example, someone living in Illinois should donate to Illinois institutions, not an institution in California. Another option is to register with an anatomical gift registry, rather than a specific institution, with the registry directing the body to an institution which can use it after death.

To enroll in a willed body program to donate a body to science, someone needs to fill out registration paperwork indicating that he or she wishes to make an anatomical gift, and giving consent. The institution will provide examples of the kind of research it does to give donors an idea of how their bodies may be used, but as a general rule, people cannot specify how their bodies can used. It is also advisable to inform family members and one's doctor so that these people are aware of the intent to donate. The signed paperwork should be kept with the donor's will and other important documents so that it will be immediately accessible after death.

When one donates a body to science, the institution usually wants to handle embalming and other treatments. The organization should be notified as soon as possible after death so that arrangements for transports can be made. When research is finished, the body is cremated, and the ashes may be respectfully disposed of at the institution or returned to the family by request.

People interested in making an anatomical gift should be aware that willed bodies are sometimes refused. If cadavers have experienced substantial damage or the person has died of a communicable disease, the body may be rejected. Likewise, bodies which have been autopsied are often rejected. Thus, it is a good idea to make alternate arrangements before death in case it is not possible to donate a body to science.

Finally, it is usually not possible to participate in an organ donation program and to make an anatomical gift, because scientific institutions and medical schools usually want whole bodies. Some may accept a body if it has been used for cornea donation, but other types of organ donation are not an option. For people who want to save lives with organ donation and advance scientific causes, one option is to donate organs through an organ donor program and to donate the brain to a brain bank for scientific study.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGeek researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By browncoat — On May 25, 2014

@clintflint - Do they really need that many bodies these days though? I thought mostly they used manikins and computer simulations to train doctors these days. I've even seen robots shaped like pregnant women that will simulate giving birth so med students can learn techniques.

I thought body donation to science was usually done when someone has an unusual feature, like a strange injury or birth defect that scientists wanted to study, and they will usually request your donation.

By clintflint — On May 24, 2014

@pastanaga - Well, they will still return the ashes to the family at their request, so if your family doesn't mind cremation I don't actually think it makes much difference in the long run.

One thing I will say, though, is that people should really sign up to be organ donors first and only donate their bodies to science if they are rejected as organ donors.

It takes surprisingly little to be rejected as an organ donor. If you are too overweight or over a certain age you probably won't be allowed to do this, for example. Donating your body to science is still helping people in the long run though, because it allows doctors to practice what they need to know on real bodies so that they can eventually use techniques to save lives.

By pastanaga — On May 24, 2014

If you are thinking about doing this, you should speak to your friends and family about it first. It's an uncomfortable conversation, but I think it's one that should be had. It is your family who will have to live with the consequences of your decision after all. And if they are religious or just appreciate the idea of being able to visit a graveyard site or whatever, you might be depriving them of something that will give them comfort if you pass away.

Donating a body to science is ultimately the decision of the person who owns the body, but I don't think it's worth making the people you love miserable. I know I would prefer to do this, but I won't specify it until after my mother has passed away, because if I went before her she would be even more devastated if I wasn't buried in a traditional way.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/how-do-i-donate-my-body-to-science.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.