What Happens to Donated Bodies After Death

When you donate your body to science, a program collects it soon after death, checks that it can be accepted, and then uses it for medical teaching, surgical training or research. Afterward the donor is cremated, and the cremated remains are usually returned to the family if you chose that. How long it all takes depends on the program: about 3 to 5 weeks at Science Care for unclaimed tissue, and most donors stay 2 to 3 years at OHSU's university program.

What happens in the first hours and days?

You or your family register with a program ahead of time. When the donor enters hospice or palliative care, or dies, a loved one or care provider calls the program. Science Care says to contact it immediately.

If the donation is accepted, the program arranges transportation and obtains the authorizations it needs. Science Care says it also files the death certificate locally. OHSU says its medical assessment happens only after it is told of the death, and its staff arrange transport and help with the death certificate.

For a deeper look at signing up, see our guide on how to donate your body to science.

Why are some donations declined?

Registering does not guarantee acceptance. Science Care says about 40% of people who register never become donors. The program looks at the donor's condition after death.

• OHSU lists: low or high body weight, extensive trauma including recent unhealed surgeries or an autopsy, signs of decomposition, and a history of communicable disease such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, hepatitis, HIV or tuberculosis.
• Science Care lists: HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B or C, extremely high or low body mass index, consent issues, location of residence or death, legal issues and the condition of the body.

The lists above name specific conditions, not illness in general, and the final call is made after death. Because refusal is possible, keep a backup plan such as direct cremation. Our guide to body donation rejection reasons explains what to do if it happens.

How are donated bodies used?

Uses depend on the program and on what the donor agreed to.

• Teaching. University programs use donors to teach anatomy. OHSU says its medical students write thank-you cards and letters to donor families.
• Surgical training. Science Care says specimens are used for medical research, surgical training and education programs, including robotic-assisted surgical training and organ transplant team training.
• Research and device development. Science Care lists work on cardiovascular procedures, cancer treatment, respiratory disease therapies and cochlear implant technology.

Science Care says 96% of its accepted donations are placed with medical education or research initiatives. Read the consent form to see exactly which uses you are agreeing to, and ask the program what happens if a use you object to comes up.

How long is the body kept?

These are two programs, not national averages. Ask any program for its own timeline. Our guide on getting cremated remains back after body donation covers timing, shipping and what to ask.

What happens afterward?

The donor is cremated. Science Care says remains can be returned to the person you designate. OHSU says donors who chose "indefinite" donation are not returned to next of kin and are cremated and then buried at sea or inurned. A program may also invite families to a memorial. OHSU says a winter memorial service invites donor families to talk about their loved one, and Science Care says it plants a tree in honor of each donor.

Is the program trustworthy?

Whole-body donation programs differ in who runs them and how closely they are overseen, and rules vary by state. Some questions help you compare:

1. Is the program run by a university or a private company? Science Care is a private company and says its program is no-cost once you are accepted.
2. Is it accredited? The American Association of Tissue Banks says its accreditation program recognizes quality and safety for tissue establishments, and it has a search tool for accredited establishments.
3. Will you get the timeline, costs and return policy in writing?
4. Is each donor cremated individually?
5. Can you cancel? OHSU says you can cancel the form at any time by phone or letter.

Can we hold a funeral?

You can hold a memorial service, but usually not a viewing. Science Care says traditional viewings and open casket funerals are not available through its program because cremation is the final disposition, and families can hold a memorial with or without the remains present. See our guides on funerals without a body and celebration of life vs memorial service.

What does it cost?

Science Care says that once you are accepted, there is no cost for transportation, cremation, return of cremated remains and filing the death certificate. OHSU says the donor's estate pays for funeral home costs and initial preparation and transportation, because Oregon gives no state funding. Get this in writing from any program, and compare it with the cost of a standard cremation or burial.

Can I donate organs and my body?

Organ, eye and tissue donation for transplant is separate from whole-body donation. Science Care says a registered organ donor can typically also donate their body, and OHSU decides case by case after organ, eye or tissue donation. Our guide to body donation vs organ donation explains the trade-offs, and organ donation after death covers how transplant donation works.

What to do next

1. Choose a program and read its consent form, including final disposition and costs.
2. Tell your family, your doctor and anyone likely to be at your bedside.
3. Write down the program's phone number where your family can find it.
4. Plan a backup in case the donation is declined.