Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Tips & Warnings:
- If you would like any contact by AGR with your family to be avoided, it is requested that you simply have two witnesses sign the enclosed Willed-Body Consent Form. However, this step is not a requirement to be accepted into the program.
- Your application is likely to be approved immediately, and upon acceptance, two laminated Donor Cards with a unique Registration Number will be mailed to you.
- Two popular misconceptions are as follows:
1.) "I already have this on my Driver's License" (Answer) No, you don't. That is Organ / Tissue Donation through your local Organ Bank, and it doesn't count as a Final Disposition of a deceased human body.
2.) "I am too old and/or have too many things wrong with me to be useful" (Answer) No, you're not (or, no, you don't)...AGR accepts most diseases and conditions, and there aren't any upper age limits.
- AGR only cannot accept anyone with a known contagious disease, such as Hepatitis B or C, HIV / AIDS, Syphilis and active Tuberculosis. Also, those individuals exceeding 350 pounds would not be accepted at this time.
Step1
Call 1-800-300-LIFE (5433) to obtain a free and easy Donor Registration Packet.
Step2
Research their website, if desired, at http://www.anatomicgift.com/ while waiting for your packet. You may also download the packet from the website; however, the return, self-addressed envelope will not be included.
Step3
Fill out the packet to the best of your ability, in black pen ink. Use the enclosed self-addressed envelope (add a stamp, please) and mail back to AGR. You may save postage and fax the forms to 1-410-863-0497, but please make sure to include your contact information on a cover page, just in case something's amiss.
Novice 
Comments
DawnWaskey said
on 8/26/2008 Thanks for the nice comment! The body, once received in their laboratory, is immediately assessed for any current needs in the Tissue Distribution Department. I know that there's always tissue requests from established researchers waiting to be filled, and some are quite specific (ie -- no cancer, or certain types of cancer, or brain disorders, or no spine 'hardware', etc.)...
When I say "established researchers", I am talking about those Investigators whom have proven their request for human tissue is ethical and shows scientific merit.
A lot of paperwork (16 -page application!) is on file for every research institution that receives such an invaluable resource for their studies.
I am not at liberty to disclose such proprietary information (without permission); however, each donor family is given a general idea of the current tissue needs at first, and then a follow-up letter is
Lindaperry said
on 8/22/2008 I have to say this is an interesting article. Makes me wonder though, where is that body going--to what organization, and how does the person know ?
Good article. Four stars * * * *