Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

No. The intent to donate may be included in a will, but because a will may not be found in time for delivery of the body to the University, it is more effective to have these instructions readily available on a wallet donation card or donation form. The donor should also advise his or her family and legal representative of the intent to make a donation.

No. The body of any person may be donated with appropriate consent by the donor or the donor's legal representative.

No. The state anatomical law (RUAGL) requires that the donation be a gift without compensation.

Yes. Although the University of Michigan Anatomical Donations Program does not charge a fee for its services, the donor's family or legal representative is responsible for certain costs. A funeral home must be notified at the time of death; if the prospective donor is acceptable to the program, the funeral home is responsible for transportation of the donor to The University of Michigan and will also execute all legal documents, including the death certificate, burial transit permit and the anatomical donations program paperwork. Whatever a funeral home charges for these services is the responsibility of the decedent’s estate or next-of-kin. If a donor is not acceptable to the program, the family or representative is responsible for making alternate arrangements for final disposition.

Yes. Medical conditions including emaciation or obesity, extensive burns, mutilation, advanced decomposition, or a history of contagious diseases(hepatitis, AIDS, Creutzfeldt-Jakob, tuberculosis, active MRSA, VRE, etc.) would make a donated body unusable. Cause of death may also be a factor. To help avoid any surprise or disappointment, family members should be advised as early in the donation process as possible that the final determination on the suitability of a donation will be made after death.

The funeral director should call the Donations Program at 734-764-4359 promptly for instructions. Medical records will be solicited and reviewed during business hours in order to determine acceptance to the program.

If an anatomical donation is not accepted for any reason, the donor's legal representative is responsible for making alternate arrangements at the expense of the donor's estate.

Most donations are used to teach medical and dental students, and in continuing education programs. A small number are used to teach students in allied health fields such as nursing and physical therapy. Some donations are used for research, such as by surgeons to study new operative techniques. Some education or research, such as work to increase safety for individuals in the military, law enforcement, or sports, may involve exposures to destructive or
damaging forces (e.g. impacts, crashes, ballistic injuries, and blasts). The use of donations for education or research can include photographic, video, or media images of parts of the body.

Possibly. The University of Michigan Anatomical Donations Program may in its sole discretion allow a donor's body to be utilized by another institution or entity as permitted by the RUAGL for education or research. In these cases, the donor's body will then be returned to the Program for final disposition after the educational or research use is complete.

Generally, no. Any use for research would be determined by specific researcher requests pending at the time of the donor's death.

Temporary Donation means the donor's remains will be returned within approximately 24 months. Permanent Donation gives the University of Michigan the option to continue using donor's remains without time constraints and the ashes will be interred at the University of Michigan Memorial Garden.

Because of transportation costs, legal issues, and potential deterioration of the donor's body, we recommend that a donor's body be donated to a recipient in the area where death occurs.

Typically, yes. However, the funeral director must first contact our office, since failure to follow allowable procedures could prevent the intended donation.

No. A licensed funeral director must arrange for delivery of the donor's body to ensure protection of public health and compliance with all related laws and policies.

If a donor chooses a temporary donation, work with the donation will be completed within approximately 24 months. The donor’s family or funeral representative is notified by letter 2 weeks prior to the mailing of the cremated remains with a specific mailing date. This is a signature required mailing event, but if someone is not home to receive the package, the USPS will leave a written notification and the package delivery can either be re-scheduled or that package can be picked up at their local post office.

Yes. The University of Michigan Medical School conducts an annual memorial service commemorating the donors. Family members will receive an invitation to the Memorial Service, which is typically held in late September.

Yes. The donor or donor's legal representative should make arrangements directly with Washtenong Memorial Park. All costs are the responsibility of the donor or the donor's estate.

Yes. It is the strict University policy to cremate all donors after the donor has served their educational or research purpose.

No. Ashes buried in our cemetery plot cannot and will not be exhumed under any circumstance or situation.

No. We do not conduct autopsies or maintain reports.

Under the majority of circumstances, yes. However, the Anatomical Donations Program does reserve the option to retain limited samples of tissues, bones and organs for future education or medical research. Two examples could be the temporal bones (e.g., a small bone located near the ear cavity) or an entire or partial organ such as the liver or heart.