Q: What is the best way to discuss whole body donation with my family?   (back to top)
A: We all know that the occasion of death is a very difficult and stressful time for a family without the added burden of having to make immediate, critical decisions. In addition to inquiries about the final disposition of the body, the family of the deceased will be asked if they wish to donate their loved one's organs and/or tissues. That is why it is so important for everyone to discuss their wishes ahead of time with their family or legal next-of-kin. 

MANY OF US may have organ or tissue donor cards in our wallet or purse. In many states we can affix a donor pledge to our driver's license. The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, now enacted in all 50 states, makes provision for these donor cards. But donor cards are not enough! 

Organ & tissue procurement agencies will not act without permission of the next-of-kin of the donor. In order of priority legal next-of-kin are (1) spouse, (2) adult son or daughter, (3) parent, (4) adult brother or sister, and (5) legal guardian. 

The most important step in considering organ, tissue and whole body donation is a family discussion so that family members are fully informed and aware of each other's wishes. If a question comes up that is not covered on this web page call 1-866-799-2300 at any time.

Q: How do I register as a donor with Life Quest Anatomical?   (back to top)
A: Simply call or print and mail the Life Quest Anatomical Donor Registration Packet. By planning in advance, you can eliminate any confusion about your wishes. All records will be held in the strictest of confidence. Should you decide to become a donor, registration cards will be returned to you by mail. Then, one call is all that is necessary. We are available 24 hours a day and respond quickly and with quiet, caring professionalism.

Q: Who benefits?   (back to top)
A: We all benefit from whole body donation for medical research and training, including our loved ones. Many diseases are hereditary, affecting siblings, children and grandchildren.

Q: Who is eligible?   (back to top)
A: Almost everyone can donate regardless of organ transplant donation, age or location. Most illnesses and past surgeries are accepted. Donors are screened to ensure safety and suitability of the donation for medical research and training. Rule outs for donation include HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B & C, active tuberculosis or syphilis. Other considerations include severe obesity, decomposition, trauma or extensive orthopedic surgeries.

Q: What is the cost to my family?   (back to top)
A: There is no cost associated with donation. All costs are paid by the procuring agencies. However, the family will be responsible for the cost of paid certified copies of the death certificate and shipping of cremated remains if requested. Current costs are as follows: death certificate filing fee: $0, death certificate order processing fee: $50, death certificate certified copies each: $5-$18, shipping of cremated remains: $45.

Q: Where do the organs and tissue go?   (back to top)
A: All tissue donated to Life Quest Anatomical is placed with well respected and responsible medical schools, research institutions and many of the nation's leading hospital and medical centers to provide critical hands-on training and research for physicians across a broad range of specialties. Life Quest Anatomical requires all recipients of human tissue placed through our network to complete a stringent application and transfer agreement in accordance with Life Quest Anatomical’s Tissue Use Policy, which must be approved before researcher requests are considered and filled. Furthermore, once granted Life Quest Anatomical has a service organization integrated into it's program for the sole purpose of ensuring dignified and responsible transportation, presentation, and utilization of all donor tissue. Essentially, each and every donor is escorted, cared for and returns with a certified Life Quest Anatomical technician.

Q: Where do doctors receive training?   (back to top)
A: Physician training is conducted under controlled conditions primarily in secured medical or academic facilities. The facilities Life Quest Anatomical provides and supports always ensure the safety of the physicians and the dignity of the donors.

Q: What about transplant donation?   (back to top)
A: Transplant donation is typically handled through hospitals and takes priority over donation for medical research and education. It is important to let your family know of your wishes as they will be asked for consent if the appropriate conditions for transplant donation occur. Donation for transplant would not prohibit donation for medical research and education.

Q: When must the decision to donate be made?   (back to top)
A: Life Quest Anatomical does not require pre-registration to donate to our program. Your desire to donate should be shared with your family, friends, physician, lawyer, etc. The final, legal decision to donate will be the responsibility of your legal next-of-kin, in accordance with the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act.

Q: Who can consent?   (back to top)
A: Life Quest Anatomical obtains an appropriate informed consent from the donor (or appropriate authorizing party or next of kin) in accordance with applicable state and federal law. Donations are conducted under the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act or similar laws, which emphasize an individual's rights to be a donor by allowing the deceased's wishes to remain enforceable after death. The Act authorizes a third party to make the decision for the deceased donor by expanding the authority of a surrogate decision maker if designated prior to death.

Q: Who are Legal Next of Kin?   (back to top)
A: The closest relatives, as defined by state law, of a deceased person. Most states recognize the spouse and the nearest blood relatives as next of kin. We strongly advise that you discuss your wishes with your legal next of kin, as they will be required by Life Quest Anatomical policy to be involved in the donation process once death occurs.

Q: What about confidentiality?   (back to top)
A: Life Quest Anatomical warrants and represents that it protects the confidentiality of its donors in accordance with Title 45, Part 46 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. Life Quest Anatomical identifies each donor by an internal identification number, which is used in all communications with researchers, thereby protecting the confidentiality of donors and end-users. The system ensures that tissue are trackable for safety reasons, while at the same time protecting the identity of donors by researchers. Life Quest Anatomical provides tissue to qualified medical researchers and educators, who must complete a stringent application and agreement.

Q: When disease causes death, can I specify the research I donate to?   (back to top)
A: Life Quest Anatomical will make every reasonable effort to place tissue with the appropriate research institutions to be used in the specific research requested; however, no guarantees can be made as to the results that may be obtained from the research or study of organs and tissue.

Q: Who would not be eligible to donate?   (back to top)
A: All donors are screened for infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B & C, active tuberculosis and syphilis. Donors who are known to be actively infected with any of these diseases are declined for donation due to the risk to medical investigators and procurement personnel. Most long-term illnesses such as cancer do not rule out donation.

Q: Will social security and veteran's benefits apply?   (back to top)
A: There is a one-time Social Security payment of $255 that can be made when you die if you have worked long enough. This payment can be made only to your spouse or minor children if they meet certain requirements. Veterans may receive cash benefits, cemetery space and a marker if certain requirements are met.

Q: What standards does Life Quest Anatomical comply with?   (back to top)
A: Life Quest Anatomical is the nations first whole body donor program with a direct connection and long standing relationship with both the medical research and medical education fields. Life Quest Anatomical's parent company is accredited by the ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education) to train physicians on the newest technologies based in minimally invasive surgical techniques. As such, we are the only organization of it's kind with many of the world's best known surgeons and physician faculty providing the very best training in advanced surgical techniques. Research tissue banks, such as Life Quest Anatomical, must comply with all federal, state and local laws and regulations that apply to the use and disposition of human tissue.

Q: What is your corporate status?   (back to top)
A: Life Quest Anatomical is incorporated as a taxable organization that is required to pay federal and state income taxes. Life Quest Anatomical provides services directly related to the cost of donation at no cost to donor families, is not organized to accept tax deductible monetary contributions and is not dependent on government grants. The researcher organizations, to which Life Quest Anatomical provides donor tissue, consist of both not-for-profit and for-profit entities. Each of these organizations selected their legal form, as did Life Quest Anatomical, because they believe it is the most appropriate structure to fulfill their mission.

Q: Do you charge researchers for tissue or permit tissue brokering?   (back to top)
A: Life Quest Anatomical is a fee based service organization. As an ethical institution, with strong ties to the medical research and education fields, Life Quest Anatomical charges reasonable fees for services provided to the medical research and educational community for the removal, processing, disposal, preservation, quality control, storage and transportation of human tissue. Life Quest Anatomical provides tissue only to qualified end users and prohibits tissue brokering or third party tissue transfer. Life Quest Anatomical abides by the National Organ Transplant Act, which prohibits the buying and selling of human organs and tissue. At Life Quest Anatomical, human tissue is never treated as a commodity. Life Quest Anatomical firmly believes that human tissue has the ability to save and improve the lives of many people, and as such should be treated with respect and dignity.

Q: What about an autopsy?   (back to top)
A: An autopsy would prohibit donation for medical research and education. The process of an autopsy renders the body unsuitable for donation as many of the natural landmarks such as organs and vital tissue are investigated by autopsy officials to provide cause of death.

Q: What can be donated?   (back to top)
A: The need for normal or diseased organs and tissue is determined by the current requests from the research community. Limitations may be set by the next-of-kin, the donor or the medical examiner.

Q: Will donating interfere with funeral arrangements?   (back to top)
A: Whole body donation would prohibit a funeral with an open casket. However, there remains several options a family may consider. A cremation memorial service, a memorial service without cremated remains (while the donor is actively supporting medical research and education), and cremation burial (which can be arranged through your local funeral home).

Q: Who can witness the Donor Informed Consent?   (back to top)
A: In order for a donor self informed consent to be valid, it must be signed by the donor and any two witnesses. The two witnesses may be legal next of kin (recommended), family, friends, or other persons. It is not necessary to have this document notarized.