How to Donate a Body to Medical Research

Donating your body to medical research is a selfless act that can save many lives. By registering with a local clinic or medical research facility, making your wishes clear in your will and explaining the procedure to your friends and loved ones, you may be able to help the world even after you have departed.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Consent form
• Will
• Lawyer
• Fire safe or safe deposit box

1. Donate your body to medical research by choosing a recipient. You may wish to donate your body to a medical research clinic that is performing studies on a specific medical condition, especially if you or a loved one has suffered from the disease. You may also choose a local hospital, medical school or research clinic that has been prominent or helpful to you in your life.
2. Contact your chosen recipient and find out what type of contract agreements or consent forms need to be completed before you can donate your body to medical research. You will also need to make arrangements for the transport of your body to the facility. In many cases, your body may be cremated, and your ashes delivered to your loved ones free of charge once the medical research has been completed.
3. Discuss your intentions with your family and loved ones before you make arrangements to have your body donated for medical research. This may eliminate any last-minute delays in the delivery of your body to the proper medical facility, which can be a common occurrence if the family is not properly informed of your wishes in advance.
4. File all consent forms, agreements and contracts concerning the handling of your body with your last will and testament. Have a lawyer review the paperwork and ensure that the transfer of your body will occur without delays or complications. Keep the paperwork in a safe place, such as in a fire safe or in a safety deposit box.
5. Use online resources, such as the Anatomic Gifts Registry, to donate your body to medical research (see Resources below). AGR will work directly with the funeral home to deliver your body to a variety of medical research facilities. AGR will also ship your cremated ashes back to your family and loved ones after the research is concluded.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not expect any type of financial compensation for your body. By law, most medical research facilities are not allowed to pay for cadavers.