Whole Body Donation Program

Organ donation vs. Whole body donation

 Frequently Asked Questions

In an attempt to shed some light on the issues concerning most individuals who contact us for information, this page is intended to highlight the most common questions about body donation and organ donation. Organ donation has costs associated with the process that must be paid to the hospital handling the harvesting of the organs for transplant. Organ donation also does not provide for transportation of the organ donor, a cremation or funeral, or any other post-mortem expenses. Whole body donation requests the family pay for paperwork expenses only. Acceptance into the body donor program does not depend on a donor's ability to pay these costs (usually $130-$175). Anatomical donation programs such as Life Quest Anatomical pay for all expenses.

There are many questions regarding organ donation and body donation. Many people believe that having “organ donor” displayed on their drivers license means they are supporting medical science. In fact a majority of people when asked at the time of their drivers license renewal simply answer yes without fully understanding what they consented to. In every state in the continental US you have the option of being an organ donor. When you pass away as an organ donor, if it is determined you are a viable candidate to have your organs harvested for transplant, your organs are harvested and matched up with regional transplant hospitals and a national list of transplant recipients awaiting healthy organs. The national turn down rate is well above 50% however and you should be aware of what might preclude you from this type of donation. The United Network for Organ Sharing has an excellent Frequently Asked Questions page. For more information we suggest you visit their site. You may also want to check with your state run organ donation program for more information.

Organ donation very different than whole body donation. A whole body donor must discuss their desire to donate their bodies with their family, fill out donor consent forms for themselves and have their next of kin complete next of kin consent forms. In addition to these two consent forms, there is a cremation authorization the next of kin must complete to authorize Life Quest Anatomical to carry out a cremation and return the cremated remains to the family once medical science has been supported and educational and or research projects have been fulfilled by the whole body donor. With body donation the whole body of the donor is taken into the care of Life Quest Anatomical, the donor's medical and social history is utilized to match the donor with medical education and medical research functions at teaching hospitals, medical schools and research institutions nationwide. Once the medical objectives have been met, the cremation is scheduled and the cremated remains are returned to the family. All of this happens very quickly, usually within 30 days. Donating your body is not only easy but is the only form of final disposition that can leave a legacy of hope for future generations. We understand that deciding to make an anatomical gift is a sensitive issue and one you can only make with the help of your family. If you choose anatomical donation and you would like more information on how to get started please contact us.

Donating your body to science. Your gift could be our next medical breakthrough.

Donating your body to science and the process of discussing this life choice with your family just got a lot easier. Discussing this vital life choice with your family is not something you have to do alone. Our website has a lot of useful information on how to discuss making an anatomical gift or body donation with your family. How the process works and what you and your family can and should expect of us when the need arises. To donate your body is to give the ultimate gift to future generations. One of hope and prosperity. One of good health and longevity. The act of giving today assures a healthier tomorrow for our children, our children's children and beyond.

Please view our chart below to learn more about organ donation vs. whole body donation.

Organ donation Whole body donation
Requires your consent and placed on your driver's license. Additional paperworkand information required at time of death. Requires two consent forms and a phone interview at time of registration. Donor ID card is provided.
The determination if your organs can be used or transplant is made at time of death unless you have an infectious disease or spreading cancer. For more information please visit http://unos.org/ You may preregister or contact us when death has already occurred. Only HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B or C, or weight in excess of 250lbs would exclude a donation. See below for other whole body donation exclusions.
You or your family must arrange for transportation, funeral service, burial or cremation along with additional expenses. National average for a funeral is $6900. National average for cremation is $4900. Direct cremation $1800. The national average to be an organ donor is $700. There are some local and national organizations who can assist with these expenses. LQA representative manages and provides transportation. All expenses except paper-work are covered. Total costs are generally between $130-$175 depending on number of death certificates needed. That means local transportation to us and cremation are all covered. If a financial hardship exist fees are waived and up to 3 certified death certificates are provided. Total cost $0. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions section on cost.
Organ donors help save many lives by providing organs to living donors who need healthy organs to survive. Many people die every year awaiting organs for transplant. In 2005 the AMA estimates16,000 died awaiting transplants. Whole body donors support medicine through education and research. Areas such as colon cancer, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, cervical cancer, womens health care studies and spinal studies can only be advanced through the study of the human anatomy. The skills these surgeons aquire through this form of study are then utilized to serve their communities, thereby saving many lives and improving the quality of life for many more. In the US 950,000 people die every year of heart disease. 547,000 of cancer and 100,000 die from Alzheimer's disease.

Exclusions for whole body donation
  • HIV 1 and 2 AIDS
  • Viral Hepatitis B and C
  • Weight in excess of 250 lbs.
  • MRSA or staph infection. Any infection or condition for which the potential donor was in isolation for.
  • The donor dies and is found dead and decomposition has already begun.
  • The body undergoes significant trauma resulting in death. (gunshot wound, fire, crushed, etc)
  • Drowning victim
  • Donor is on dialysis and kidney failure is a factor prior to death. Fluid retention will result making it impossible to place the donor. Fluid retention in the abdomen or severe edema in the extremities would exclude the donor.
  • Severe jaundice.
  • Stage 4 cancers that have widely spread throughout the body.
  • Bed sores that are subcutaneous. Stage 3 or worse will make it impossible to place the donor.
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