How Does One Donate Their Body to Science?

Although the procedures may resemble each other, body donation is a little different than organ donation. Upon death, needed organs are recovered from a registered organ donor and matched to a recipient. Body donation is made for the good of medical science. Although many states participate in an organ donor registration plan, the procedure for making a full body donation at death is less well known. Fortunately, the answer to how does one donate their body to science is not any more complicated than registering with a state organ donor registration plan. A simple phone call begins the process.

How do I donate my body to medical science? Persons interested in making a lasting gift to humankind should call a LifeQuest representative at 1-866-799-2300. A representative will be happy to answer questions and address concerns about the procedure for donating their body to science. If desired, LifeQuest will mail a free donation registration packet which contains detailed information about making a body donation at death. There is no obligation associated with the call or the free donation packet. Should you decide to register as a whole body donor, you will be mailed a registration card and consent forms which need to be signed by your next of kin and two witnesses.

The LifeQuest procedure for donating a body to science begins with the confirmation of death. A family member or caregiver contacts LifeQuest, and our surgical technicians discuss the acceptability of donation with the family and physician. Depending on the circumstances of death or the final directive the family chooses, body donation may or may not be possible. If the donation is possible, a surgical technician accompanies the donor to each of the functions and oversees the recovery of tissues for medical research. After recovery, the body is cremated at no expense to the estate of the deceased. After cremation, LifeQuest contacts the family with information about the donation.

LifeQuest has long association with medical research facilities who are seeking the answers to diseases and afflictions such as diabetic neuropathy, Parkinson’s disease, osteoporosis and cancer. We are the program of choice for the nation’s surgical education facilities, where the next generation of surgeons learn advanced techniques that save lives and improve the quality of life. If you or a loved one has decided upon cremation, please consider making a body donation to medical science. This final act of caring is a gift of life to future generations.