1. WHAT ARE THE LEGAL AND PERSONAL CONSIDERATIONS RELATED TO THE DONATION OF MY BODY FOR USE IN MEDICAL EDUCATION AFTER MY DEATH?

In Ohio you can specify in your Last Will and Testament by card or other document drafted in accordance with the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act the manner of final disposition of your remains within the limits of applicable laws. In the absence of such a Will, card or other document, the manner of disposition of your remains is selected by your survivors. Presumably, they will follow the instructions that you have given them. If you choose to donate your body for medical education, care must be taken to avoid certain problems that might arise:

a. A Will should be prepared by an attorney to insure its legality, whereas the card or other document created in accordance with the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act can be completed upon the advice of an institutional donee (e.g., the Department of Anatomy).

b. Since the Department of Anatomy makes no attempt to follow up on persons who intend to donate, your survivors should be informed of the fact that you have made a disposition of your body by Last Will and Testament, card or other document. If your survivors are not informed in advance, the reading of a Will or discovery of donation papers will probably come too late for your gift to be useful.

c. If your Will mentions the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (NEOUCOM), provisions should be made in the Will for an alternate procedure in case death occurs in another state or country or should circumstances arise (see question 15) under which the Department of Anatomy does not accept the donation.

It is not necessary, however, that your donation be made in your Will. The Department of Anatomy "witness form" is so worded that it is not a Will or contract, but it is a legal expression of your wish to donate your body.

2. HOW DO I GO ABOUT DONATING MY BODY FOR USE IN MEDICAL EDUCATION?

Write or call the Department of Anatomy. You will be sent a set of "witness forms," general information form and medical records release form. Fill in the necessary information and sign the forms in the presence of two witnesses who must also sign in your presence. These signatures do not need to be notarized. One copy of the witness form, general information form and the medical records release form should be returned for our records. One copy of the witness form should be given to your physician, one copy given to your next-of-kin, and one should be kept for your records. Upon receipt of the completed forms, the Department of Anatomy will provide a wallet-sized card that you, the donor, may carry with you.

3. CAN I WITHDRAW FROM THIS PROGRAM IF I CHANGE MY MIND?

Yes. Please notify us by letter or telephone to state your desire to withdraw.  Our copy of your form will be destroyed. Please advise your physician and next-of-kin of your withdrawal.

4. IN THE EVENT OF A CHANGE OF ADDRESS, SHOULD I NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT OF ANATOMY?

Yes. Please keep ups informed of your current residence so we can keep our records accurate.

5. IS THERE AN AGE REQUIREMENT FOR BODY DONORS?

Yes. A donor must be at least 18 years of age.

6. WHAT DOES THE DEPARTMENT OF ANATOMY DO WHEN IT IS NOTIFIED OF MY DEATH?

We will ask the person calling to inform us of your death a series of questions regarding the circumstances of your death. This will allow us to determine if the body is suitable for donation. We also will need assurance that the body has been released by a physician. If the death occurs at home, the individual's physician must be called immediately prior to contacting the NEOUCOM. The body must ARRIVE at the NEOUCOM within 10 hours of death, or the donation must be deemed unacceptable.

If your death has occurred within a 75-mile radius of Rootstown, Ohio, we will dispatch our removal service to pick up the body from the home, hospital or other care facility and bring it directly to the NEOUCOM. We DO NOT accept body donations outside the 75-mile radius of NEOUCOM unless special arrangements have been made with the Department of Anatomy (see Question #9). We DO NOT accept donors outside the state of Ohio.

In cases where there is no attending physician, accidental or violent death occurs, or when death occurs under suspicious circumstances, the coroner has complete jurisdiction over the disposition of the body.

7. WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE REGARDING THE DEATH CERTIFICATE?

We DO NOT require a signed death certificate to accompany the body, but we will need to know the name, address and telephone number of the physician who will be signing it. The Department of Anatomy will generate the certificate and will file the certificate with the Bureau of Vital Statistics in the county where death occurred. If copies of the death certificate are needed for proof of death, the necessary copies can be purchased from the Department of Health in the county where death occurred. The certificate is usually available 10 working days after death.

8. MAY THERE BE A FUNERAL IF MY FAMILY WANTS IT?

In order for one's body to be maintained in good condition for medical education, it is necessary that it be embalmed as soon as possible after death. Therefore, every effort is made to bring the deceased to NEOUCOM quickly. A memorial service may be held by the family for the deceased.

9. WILL THERE BE ANY CHARGES OR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS TO MY SURVIVORS?

No. The cost for transportation to NEOUCOM, embalming, cremation and burial in the Homeland Cemetery in Rootstown, Ohio, will be covered by NEOUCOM. However, if the ashes are returned to the survivors, NEOUCOM will not pay for any expenses incurred after the release of the cremains. A donor will be accepted from outside the 75-mile radius if prior arrangements have been made with the College of Medicine for the surviving family to pay any additional costs incurred beyond the nominal removal rate.

10. IS A MEDICAL HISTORY REQUIRED?

No. It is helpful, however, especially if the history reports unusual circumstances. One of the forms the donor completes when registering with the Body Donation Program allows us to obtain medical records. If records are obtained, names and other identifying data are deleted before sharing the history with students.

11. WILL ANY PUBLICITY BE GIVEN WITH RESPECT TO MY DONATION?

No. A statement as to the facts of donation may be made public by the survivors in the form of an obituary in their local newspaper if they wish. Bodies are entered in our records by name and assigned a number. Only the number follows the body into the laboratory.

12. HOW WILL MY BODY BE USED?

The majority of bodies that come to the Department of Anatomy will be used for the teaching of anatomy (body structure) to medical students. Other bodies are used by interns and residents to review anatomy in connection with their special training for surgery. A few bodies may be sent for similar use to institutions within NEOUCOM consortium whose purpose, facilities and personnel have been approved by the Department of Anatomy. A few bodies are used by physicians in research directed toward the solution of problems or the development of new medical or surgical procedures. In every case the Department of Anatomy retains control of the body. In these cases, all bodies are returned to NEOUCOM for final disposition. When the body is released to NEOUCOM, survivors should understand that the cremains may not be returned for a period of up to two years after donation.

13. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE REMAINS AFTER YOU HAVE FINISHED YOUR STUDIES?

The remains are cremated individually. The family/responsible party then has the choice of having the cremains buried in our cemetery plot at Homeland Cemetery in Rootstown, Ohio, or having the cremains returned for private disposition. Either of these choices should be indicated on the donor form.

Families and friends will be invited to a multi-denominational memorial service organized by our medical students and the Department of Anatomy.

Following the service, the cremains will be returned to the family or buried at the cemetery. Our burial plot is graced by a large headstone upon which the following words are inscribed:

They Gave in Death
For Those in Life

Northeastern Ohio Universities
College of Medicine

There are no additional grave markers, and individuals are not listed by name on the monument. A permanent memorial plaque listing individual names is on display at the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine.

14. WHAT IF MY DOCTOR WANTS TO DO AN AUTOPSY?

There are cases in which the physician is puzzled by the illness and death, and permission to perform an autopsy may be an important contribution to medical science. The choice between permitting the autopsy and donating the body to the Department of Anatomy must be made by the survivors. However, the Department of Anatomy does not accept a body upon which an autopsy has been performed.

The survivors are then responsible for making some other arrangements for disposition of the remains at their expense. The decision to permit an autopsy will not be opposed by the Department of Anatomy.

15. AFTER I HAVE INDICATED IN WRITING MY DESIRE TO DONATE MY BODY, CAN THE DEPARTMENT OF ANATOMY REFUSE TO ACCEPT IT?

Yes. THE DEPARTMENT OF ANATOMY RESPECTFULLY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ANY BODY. 

The Department of Anatomy:

a.  will not accept a body that has been embalmed elsewhere.

b. will not accept a body that has undergone an autopsy.

c. will not accept a body of a person who dies during major surgery or shortly thereafter.

d. will not accept a body of a person who has excessive edema.

e. will not accept a body which demonstrates severe permanent contractures of the extremities.

f. will not accept a body if any organs or tissues have been donated at the time of death.

g. will not accept a body of a person who has died of an accidental or suicidal death.

h. will not accept an obese body.

i. will not accept a body of a person who has died of or with a contagious disease.

j. MAY NOT accept a body of a person who has had limbs amputated (i.e., arms and legs).

k. will not accept a body of a person who has died outside of a 75-mile radius of the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine unless prior arrangements have been made (see #9).

l. will not accept a body of a person who has died outside of the state of Ohio.

m. If a relative notifies the Department of Anatomy that he or she wishes to make other disposition of the body at his/her own expense, the Department of Anatomy will ask for assurance that the family has arrived at an agreement, before accepting or refusing the body.

n. will not accept bodies during national holidays.

o. will not accept bodies during unscheduled emergency situations such as extreme weather situations, school emergency situations, etc.

In summary, THE DEPARTMENT OF ANATOMY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ANY BODY, WHICH IS, IN THE OPINION OF THE DEPARTMENT, UNFIT FOR USE FOR WHATEVER REASONS.

We suggest, therefore, that each person who registers with the Body Donation Program also have alternative arrangements for disposition.

Special note: If a registered donor is not accepted for any reason stated above, we will bury the cremated remains in Homeland Cemetery if his or her spouse or immediate relative was previously accepted and is buried there. The responsibility of cremation and any expenses incurred is the responsibility of the family or estate.

16. IF PROVISIONS FOR BODY DONATION ARE A PART OF MY WILL, CAN THE DEPARTMENT OF ANATOMY REFUSE TO ACCEPT IT?

Yes. For the same reasons as given in question 15. The Department of Anatomy also will refuse the legacy if any member of the family asserts that he or she intends to go to court in an attempt to break the Will in this particular matter.

17. IS IT NECESSARY FOR ME TO KEEP UP MY BURIAL INSURANCE AFTER I HAVE SIGNED TO DONATE MY BODY?

The decision is yours to make. Bear in mind that, if for any reasons listed in question 15, your body is not suitable for study, the expense of alternate disposition falls upon your survivors.

18. DOES THE DEPARTMENT OF ANATOMY PAY ANYTHING TO ME OR MY FAMILY FOR MY BODY?

No. Payment for a body is illegal.

19. CAN I DONATE USABLE ORGANS FOR TRANSPLANT PURPOSES?

Yes, but the donations of organs or tissues for transplantation are not handled through the Department of Anatomy. Your desire to donate organs at the time of death can be indicated on your driver's license. You also may call (800) 528-2971 or write: The Living Bank, P.O. Box 6725, Houston, Texas 77005. This is a national organization that accepts donations of part or entire bodies for transplantation, therapy, medical research or anatomical studies.

20. IF I DONATE USABLE ORGANS FOR TRANSPLANTATION PURPOSES, CAN I ALSO DONATE MY BODY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ANATOMY AT THE NORTHEASTERN OHIO UNIVERSITIES COLLEGE OF MEDICINE?

No. It should be understood that removal of organs or tissues at the time of death renders the body unsuitable for anatomical studies, and therefore, it is unacceptable to the Department of Anatomy.

21. WILL MY SURVIVORS RECEIVE A REPORT OF YOUR FINDINGS?

No. Since we do not conduct autopsies, no reports are prepared. Bodies are used mainly in basic medical education and no record of pathological findings is kept.

22. IS IT LIKELY THAT MY BODY WILL BE USED IN RESEARCH STUDYING A DISEASE THAT I HAVE?

No. Bodies are used mainly in basic medical education and no record of pathological findings is kept.

23. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR RELATIVES AND/OR FRIENDS TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ANATOMY IN MY MEMORY?

Yes.

24. IF CONTRIBUTIONS ARE MADE IN MY MEMORY, HOW WILL THESE GIFTS BE USED?

All donations made to the Department of Anatomy in memory of the donor are deposited in a special NEOUCOM account titled "Anatomy Teaching Fund" and are reserved for the support of biomedical-anatomical research.