Frequently Asked Questions

1. How will the University of Minnesota use my body?

The University of Minnesota Medical School Anatomy Bequest Program has been developed to ensure the availability of human bodies to aid in anatomy education, research, clinical practice and biomedical device design.  Anatomical donations are valuable in helping to identify causes of disease and health conditions and instrumental in identifying treatments and cures. The Anatomy Bequest Program supports statewide education of both undergraduate and graduate level, citizens and students.

2. Is there a need for whole-body anatomical bequests?

Yes, there is almost always a need for human bodies for teaching human anatomy. Body donation is a vital factor in the education of future health care practitioners.

3. Can I be both an organ and a whole-body donor?

Yes, we encourage people to sign up for any and all donor programs that interest you.  At the time of death we work with other donor programs and the next-of-kin/agent to facilitate any and all donations possible.

4. Can my family view my body after death at the University of Minnesota?

No. Viewing of the donor's body by family or friends is not possible at the University of Minnesota. (See “Instructions to Survivors of Donors” Section).

5. Can my family have visitation and a funeral service with my body present at a funeral home?

Yes. Survivors may request viewing, visitation and/or funeral services with their loved one's body present at their local funeral home.

However, the University must be made aware of this request to advise funeral home employees of special handling and embalming procedures of the body.

The University of Minnesota will not assume the cost of funeral arrangements made by survivors. (See “Instructions to Survivors of Donors” Section).

6. What happens to my body after the studies have been completed?

When the anatomical studies have been completed, which as a rule averages 18 months, three alternatives are available to the next of kin/agent for final disposition of the remains:

a) The University will cremate the remains and inter the cremated remains into a University grave at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN.

b) The University will cremate the remains and return the cremated remains to the next of kin/agent for final disposition of their choice. All expenses for this next of kin/agent arranged final disposition would be the responsibility of the estate.

c) The University will return the entire body for earth burial at a cemetery. All expenses for the burial will be the responsibility of the family or the deceased’s estate.

7. Why do the studies last as long as 18 months?

The directors of the Anatomy Bequest Program understand that we are asking for a long commitment time from grieving family members who have made the decision to donate for medical education and research.  We hope that family members understand that they have the opportunity to have a funeral, with their loved one’s remains present, prior to the donation process.  We do not want to delay or postpone the grieving process.

Before a donor’s remains can be used to educate health care practitioners, the donor’s remains need to be anatomically prepared.  The anatomical preparation process currently recommended requires arterial preservation.  After arterial preservation, the donor’s remains are isolated for a period of time to better eliminate the possibility of transmitting harmful microorganisms to students, staff or researchers.

After isolation, the donor’s remains are used for study in semester or year long courses.  The course assigned depends on the time of the year. 

8. Why are there no reports on the findings pertaining to the studies?

The Anatomy Bequest Program’s core mission is to support anatomical education for the University of Minnesota Medical School.  Anatomical education is the foundation of the student’s medical knowledge and is the first course that they take during their first year in Medical School.  Therefore the students are not yet able to diagnosis or recognize disease, rather they use this knowledge as they go forward in other curriculum courses, such as pathology.

9. Can donations be made to support disease research, such as breast cancer research?

Whole body donations to the Anatomy Bequest Program can not be made to support specific disease research.  However, if a donor or donor’s family has made contact with a medical researcher studying specific diseases prior to the donors death, we can help support the medical researchers’ request for specific tissue or information and still use the donor’s remains for medical education at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

It is important to remember that all donors and their medical conditions help to educate medical students and health care professionals.  They put their knowledge garnered through their studies to use for the rest of their careers.

10. Is it necessary to employ a funeral home if I donate my body to the University of Minnesota?

No, all of the Anatomy Bequest Program professional staff members are licensed morticians and are trained to take care of the logistical matters involved around the donor's death. These include coordinating transportation from the place of death to the University of Minnesota, filing the death certificate with the Minnesota Department of Health, notifying the Social Security Administration of the donor's death, etc.   If the family arranges for services to be provided by a local funeral home, the University of Minnesota would not assume the cost of these services.

11. What happens if I die outside the seven county metro area?

The University of Minnesota would arrange for and cover the transportation expenses to the University of Minnesota if death occurs in the State of Minnesota.

12. Can the University of Minnesota refuse my body even if I have completed bequest forms?

Yes. The University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program must reserve the right to decline, or refuse, individuals for a number of reasons. (See "General Information" section).

13. If I have had surgery in the past can I still donate my body to the University of Minnesota?

Yes. Major or minor surgery is acceptable.

14. What happens if the University of Minnesota refuses my body?

If the University of Minnesota declines or refuses the bequest or donation of an individual, it is the family's obligation to make final arrangements. (See "General Information" section).

15. Is there an age limit preventing me from body donation?

Adult individuals, 18 years of age or older, are currently accepted into the Program. There is no upper age limit. (See "General Information" section).

16. Is there any cost to me, or my family, if I donate my body to the University of Minnesota?

Currently, the only costs involved would be:

• For services provided by a funeral home.
• For those who choose to have the entire body returned for burial in a cemetery.
• For any other costs not directly related to the Anatomy Bequest Program.

17. If I am unable or have not signed bequeathal forms can my family donate my body to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program?

In some situations it is possible for a deceased's family to make an anatomical donation after the death has occurred.  It is absolutely necessary that the family members of the donor are in complete agreement with the donation.  Formal next-of-kin consenting procedures must be completed prior to the receipt of the donor's remains at the University

If you have any other questions please contact the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program at 612-625-1111or bequest@umn.edu or

Anatomy Bequest Program
University of Minnesota
3-005 Hasselmo Hall (formerly BSBE)
312 Church St. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0215