Organ Donation – A Final Gift
Death and consequent organ donation provides many of us with a onetime chance to make a valuable gift to humanity. All major religions approve of body and organ donation for medical and dental teaching, research, and transplants. According to public opinion polls, most people believe that such donations are desirable.
Organ Donation
What is organ donation?
Organ donation is when a person allows an organ of theirs to be removed, legally, either by consent while the donor is alive or after death with the assent of the next of kin. Wikipedia
With the advances in medical science in the last decade, organ transplants have become fairly common. Organ donation at a time of death is a gift of life or sight to the recipient. Circumstances surrounding death may limit this option, yet the corneas of even elderly donors will be gratefully accepted.
What if I want to be an organ donor?
- If your wish is to aid the living with an organ donation, make sure your next-of-kin and your physician know your preference.
- Keep a copy of your donor card in your wallet or carry the sticker the DMV provides on your driver’s license.
- This intent should be noted on any medical or hospital records, too.
- Note: A body from which organs have been removed will not be accepted for medical study.
Additional Links for Organ Donation
- Find out what can be donated, who can donate and how it works by going to the U.S. Government Information on Organ Donation and Transplantation
- Donate Life transplantation services gives hope to thousands of people with organ failure. To learn more, click here.
- Links for local, San Diego donation services click here.
Body Donation
Medical schools have an ongoing need of bodies for teaching and research. The need may be especially urgent at osteopathic and chiropractic schools. No medical school buys bodies, but there is usually little or no expense for the family when death occurs. Therefore, if you live in an area where lowcost funeral options do not exist, body donation may be an economical as well as thoughtful and generous choice.
Most medical schools pay for nearby transportation as well as embalming and final disposition. The school may have a contract with a particular firm for transporting bodies, so it is important to inquire about the specific arrangements to be used at the time of death in order to avoid added costs.
After medical study, the body is usually cremated, with burial or scattering in a university plot. Often the cremains or remains can be returned to the family for burial within a few weeks. Or there may be a stipulation that says the cremains will not be returned. This matter should be made attended to at the time of donation.
Some medical schools require that a donor register before death. However, in many cases, next-of-kin may make the bequest without prior arrangement.
Links on body donation:
Funeral Plans
Because it is important for the medical school to start preservation as soon after death as possible, a memorial service is most appropriate for those planning body donation.
Alternative plans for body disposition should be discussed with your family. A few schools take care of disposition regardless of condition at the time of death, in fulfillment of their contract with a donor. Most medical schools, however, follow guidelines in the acceptance of a body. If death occurs at the time of surgery, for example, the body would not be accepted for study. Certain diseases, as well as obesity, make a body unsuitable. Some medical schools may not have an immediate need and have no provision for storage or for sharing with another university. Therefore it is important to understand the details about the service you are signing up with. Create a ‘Plan B’ for exigencies that may arise.
Provisions When Traveling
There are special considerations if death occurs while you are traveling and you planned on body donation. If you are far from the medical school of your choice, should your family bear the cost of transporting your body there or may the nearest university be contacted?
The need for cadavers in some foreign countries is even greater than in the U.S. For example, in Argentina 200 medical students must share a cadaver. A private individual’s body may be shipped to another country if placed in a hermetically sealed container.
If death were to occur abroad, do you wish your survivors to inquire about the local need for bodies or organs to fulfill the intent of your anatomical bequest? Be sure to note your preference on the Uniform Donor Card you carry.
For a printable version of this document on Organ & Body Donation click here.
For more information about funerals, burial and cremation services visit the Funeral Consumers Alliance.
