Body donation to science: Ensuring your wishes are known

Planning ahead: Be a hero to your loved ones

If you’ve decided that body donation is right for you, there are steps you can take to help ensure your wishes are carried out. The following actions — starting with registration — will give your loved ones the gift of clarity and save them from wondering what you want during a very difficult time.

When you join the Science Care donor registry

Signing up to be on the registry is the first step toward making your body donation wishes known to loved ones and friends.

Steps to be completed now:

1. Complete registration.
2. Sign and submit the self-consent form.
3. Notify loved ones of your wish to donate; you can share this free information packet to get started.

Steps to be completed after passing, with legal next of kin:

1. Medical screening and social history. Acceptance decision made by Science Care.
2. If Self-Consent wasn’t already obtained, we will determine who can consent (if there is not a legal consenter, we cannot proceed). All people in the legal consenting class must be willing to sign the consent form.
3. Death certificate information obtained.
4. Transport provider sent to bring you into our care, or the care of one of our nationwide partners.

If you enroll in Science Care’s HOPE® Program

The HOPE® Program for terminally-ill patients or people in hospice or palliative care is a pre-arrangement program offering a one-year priority consideration for acceptance into our program at the time of passing. This gives you and your family peace of mind when you need it most (exclusions apply).

Steps to be completed now:

1. Medical screening and social history.
2. Self-consent (if applicable) or consenter determined. NOTE: Self-consent can only be complete if there is no memory loss, confusion, Alzheimer’s, or dementia.
3. Death certificate information obtained.
4. Express wishes to loved ones.

Steps to be completed after passing:

1. Science Care is notified of the passing, and upon acceptance, transport will be sent to bring you into our care, or the care of one of our nationwide partners.

If you take no action

Your loved ones will be left to coordinate your wishes.  If your family does not know your wish to donate, it could negatively impact your ability to donate.