FAQ

What is the best way to discuss whole body donation with my family?
How do I register as a donor with Science Care?
Who benefits?
Who is eligible?
What is the cost to my family?
Where do the organs and tissue go?
Where do doctors receive training?
What about transplant donation?
When must the decision to donate be made?
Who can consent?
Who are Legal Next of Kin?
What about confidentiality?
When disease causes death, can I specify the research I donate to?
Who would not be eligible to donate?
Will Social Security and Veteran's benefits apply?
What standards does Science Care comply with?
What is your corporate status?
Do you charge researchers for tissue or permit tissue brokering?
What about an autopsy?
What can be donated?
Will donating interfere with funeral arrangements?
Who can witness the Donor Informed Consent?

Q: What is the best way to discuss whole body donation with my family?
A: We all know that the occasion of death is a very difficult and stressful time for a family without the added burden of having to make immediate, critical decisions. In addition to inquiries about the final disposition of the body, the family of the deceased will be asked if they wish to donate their loved one's organs and/or tissues. That is why it is so important for everyone to discuss their wishes ahead of time with their family or legal next-of-kin. 

MANY OF US may have organ or tissue donor cards in our wallet or purse. In many states we can affix a donor pledge to our driver's license. The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, now enacted in all 50 states, makes provision for these donor cards. But donor cards are not enough! 

Organ & tissue procurement agencies will not act without permission of the next-of-kin of the donor. In order of priority legal next-of-kin are (1) spouse, (2) adult son or daughter, (3) parent, (4) adult brother or sister, and (5) legal guardian. 

The most important step in considering organ, tissue and whole body donation is a family discussion so that family members are fully informed and aware of each other's wishes. If a question comes up that is not covered on this web page call 1-800-417-3747 at any time.

Q: How do I register as a donor with Science Care?
A: Simply call or print and mail the Science Care Donor Registration Packet. By planning in advance, you can eliminate any confusion about your wishes. All records will be held in the strictest of confidence. Should you decide to become a donor, registration cards will be returned to you by mail. Then, one call is all that is necessary. We are available 24 hours a day and respond quickly and with quiet, caring professionalism.

Q: Who benefits?
A: We all benefit from whole body donation for medical research and training, including our loved ones. Many diseases are hereditary, affecting siblings, children and grandchildren.

Q: Who is eligible?
A: Almost everyone can donate regardless of organ transplant donation, age or location. Most illnesses and past surgeries are accepted. Donors are screened to ensure safety and suitability of the donation for medical research and training. Rule outs for donation include HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B & C, active tuberculosis or syphilis. Other considerations include severe obesity, decomposition, trauma or extensive orthopedic surgeries.

Q: What is the cost to my family?
A: Science Care pays all costs of donation and provides two certified copies of the death certificate. State fees for additional copies of certified death certificates may apply.

Q: Where do the organs and tissue go?
A: All organs and tissue donated to Science Care are used solely to advance medical research and training. Science Care requires all recipients of human tissue placed through our network to complete a stringent application and transfer agreement in accordance with Science Care’s Tissue Use Policy, which must be approved before researcher requests are considered and filled. The organizations using donated tissue include universities, government agencies, corporate or private medical institutions.

A copy of Science Care’s Tissue Use Policy is available by clicking here: Science Care’s Tissue Use Policy

Q: Where do doctors receive training?
A: Physician training is conducted under controlled conditions primarily in secured medical or academic facilities. The facilities Science Care provides and supports always ensure the safety of the physicians and the dignity of the donors.

Q: What about transplant donation?
A: Transplant donation is typically handled through hospitals and takes priority over donation for medical research and education. It is important to let your family know of your wishes as they will be asked for consent if the appropriate conditions for transplant donation occur. Donation for transplant would not prohibit donation for medical research and education.

Q: When must the decision to donate be made?
A: Science Care does not require pre-registration to donate to our program. Your desire to donate should be shared with your family, friends, physician, lawyer, etc. The final, legal decision to donate will be the responsibility of your legal next-of-kin, in accordance with the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act.

Q: Who can consent?
A: Science Care obtains an appropriate informed consent from the donor (or appropriate authorizing party or next of kin) in accordance with applicable state and federal law. Donations are conducted under the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act or similar laws, which emphasize an individual's rights to be a donor by allowing the deceased's wishes to remain enforceable after death. The Act authorizes a third party to make the decision for the deceased donor by expanding the authority of a surrogate decision maker if designated prior to death.

Q: Who are Legal Next of Kin?
A: The closest relatives, as defined by state law, of a deceased person. Most states recognize the spouse and the nearest blood relatives as next of kin. We strongly advise that you discuss your wishes with your legal next of kin, as they will be required by Science Care policy to be involved in the donation process once death occurs.

Q: What about confidentiality?
A: Science Care warrants and represents that it protects the confidentiality of its donors in accordance with Title 45, Part 46 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. Science Care identifies each donor by an internal identification number, which is used in all communications with researchers, thereby protecting the confidentiality of donors and end-users. The system ensures that tissue are trackable for safety reasons, while at the same time protecting the identity of donors by researchers. Science Care provides tissue to qualified medical researchers and educators, who must complete a stringent application and agreement.

Q: When disease causes death, can I specify the research I donate to?
A: Science Care will make every reasonable effort to place tissue with the appropriate research institutions to be used in the specific research requested; however, no guarantees can be made as to the results that may be obtained from the research or study of organs and tissue.

Q: Who would not be eligible to donate?
A: All donors are screened for infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B & C, active tuberculosis and syphilis. Donors who are known to be actively infected with any of these diseases are declined for donation due to the risk to medical investigators and procurement personnel. Most long-term illnesses such as cancer do not rule out donation.

Q: Will social security and veteran's benefits apply?
A: There is a one-time Social Security payment of $255 that can be made when you die if you have worked long enough. This payment can be made only to your spouse or minor children if they meet certain requirements. Veterans may receive cash benefits, cemetery space and a marker if certain requirements are met.

Q: What standards does Science Care comply with?
A: Science Care believes that all tissue banks should be accredited, licensed and inspected. 

Science Care is the nations first accredited whole body donor program and has been accredited since March 2003. Both our Arizona and Colorado offices have been inspected and accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks, www. aatb.org, for the retrieval, processing, storage and distribution of non-transplantable human tissue for medical research and education. Science Care has been licensed by the State of New York Department of Health since June 2004 as a non-transplant anatomic tissue bank. 

Research tissue banks, such as Science Care, must comply with all federal, state and local laws and regulations that apply to the use and disposition of human tissue.

Q: What is your corporate status?
A: Science Care is incorporated as a taxable organization that is required to pay federal and state income taxes. Science Care provides services directly related to the cost of donation at no cost to donor families, is not organized to accept tax deductible monetary contributions and is not dependent on government grants. The researcher organizations, to which Science Care provides donor tissue, consist of both not-for-profit and for-profit entities. Each of these organizations selected their legal form, as did Science Care, because they believe it is the most appropriate structure to fulfill their mission.

Q: Do you charge researchers for tissue or permit tissue brokering?
A: Science Care is a fee based service organization. As an ethical institution, accredited by the ATTB, Science Care charges reasonable fees for services provided to the medical research and educational community for the removal, processing, disposal, preservation, quality control, storage and transportation of human tissue. Science Care provides tissue only to qualified end users and prohibits tissue brokering or third party tissue transfer. Science Care abides by the National Organ Transplant Act, which prohibits the buying and selling of human organs and tissue. At Science Care, human tissue is never treated as a commodity. Science Care firmly believes that human tissue has the ability to save and improve the lives of many people, and should be treated with dignity and respect.

Q: What about an autopsy?
A: An autopsy would not prohibit donation for medical research.

Q: What can be donated?
A: The need for normal or diseased organs and tissue is determined by the current requests from the research community. Limitations may be set by the next-of-kin, the donor or the medical examiner.

Q: Will donating interfere with funeral arrangements?
A: Whole body donation would prohibit a funeral with an open casket. However, a donation of internal organs and/or tissue from lower extremities or posterior regions will still allow for an open casket funeral.

Q: Who can witness the Donor Informed Consent?
A: In order for a donor self informed consent to be valid, it must be signed by the donor and any two witnesses. The two witnesses may be legal next of kin (recommended), family, friends, or other persons. It is not necessary to have this document notarized.