For Donor Families

If you recently lost a loved one, we would like to express our condolences. We hope the following information will help guide you at this time.

• The University of Minnesota, Anatomy Bequest Program should be notified of a donor's death as soon as possible. The person calling us could be the next of kin or other family member, an authorizing person, a health professional or medical examiner. Please call 612-625-1111 at any time. Someone is available to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
   
• Potential donors, their next of kin or authorizing person should be aware that even though they or their loved one is registered as a potential donor to the University of Minnesota, Anatomy Bequest Program, certain events before or shortly after death may make their or their loved one's body unsuitable for whole body donation. (See Donor Suitability)

• If the University of Minnesota, Anatomy Bequest Program accepts the donation of an individual's body, the Anatomy Bequest Program will arrange for transportation of the body from the place of death to the University at the Anatomy Bequest Program's expense. This pertains only to individuals who die in the State of Minnesota.

• If a death occurs outside of Minnesota, the donor's estate, next of kin or authorizing person is responsible for the transportation and paperwork costs associated with bringing the donor’s body to the University of Minnesota. These arrangements must be made with a funeral home. If a donor’s body has already been transported into Minnesota, the Anatomy Bequest Program will cover the expense of transporting the donor’s body from that location to the University of Minnesota.

• If the University of Minnesota, Anatomy Bequest Program declines a donation, the donor's estate, next of kin or authorizing person is responsible for making final arrangements. Potential donors, their next of kin or authorizing persons may wish to make contingency funeral arrangements with a local funeral director in the event the Anatomy Bequest Program is not able to accept the decedent for whole body donation. For reasons a donor may be declined, see Donor Suitability.
   
• A donor's next of kin or authorizing person may request visitation and funeral services with their loved one's body present at a local funeral home. The Anatomy Bequest Program will not assume the cost of services provided by a funeral home at the request of the donor's next of kin/authorizing person. Following the donor's visitation or funeral service, the Anatomy Bequest Program will embalm the donor's body and retain it for educational and scientific studies. The donor will remain at the University of Minnesota, Anatomy Bequest Program for an average of 18 months.

• Access to the Bequest Program laboratories is restricted, and only faculty, staff or students of health professions are authorized to use or enter our facilities. Viewing of the donor's body, once it has been transferred to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program, is not possible.
   
• We hope donors' families, friends and authorizing persons derive comfort from knowing we maintain dignity and respect for those who have donated their bodies. We fully recognize the indispensable contribution that participants in the Anatomy Bequest Program have made. Each year the University of Minnesota anatomy students coordinate a memorial service to publicly recognize the donors who have generously donated their bodies to support education for health professionals. Faculty, staff, and students attend and participate in this service to publicly express their appreciation to the donors and their families. Donor family members will be invited to attend this service if they choose to be notified. For more information regarding the Memorial service, clink here: Anatomy Memorial Service
  
   
• The University has a comprehensive oversight program. The Director, Assistant Director, and many of the full-time program staff are funeral directors licensed by the State of Minnesota, and they must comply with laws regulating the care of human bodies. Our Director and Assistant Director report to the Dean of the Medical School.
   
• We've instituted a number of safeguards to make sure bodies are handled with appropriate respect. The Anatomy Bequest Program Proposal Review Committee evaluates requests for all uses of human bodies, and staff members regularly participate in and monitor all studies. An additional committee consisting of a medical doctor, former assistant dean, departmental head, bioethicist, anatomy professor and a donor family member provide counsel and review the Proposal Review Committee policies.  State law prohibits selling bodies or body parts, and the University has a number of oversight controls in place to make sure that we comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

Please note: No formal report or findings pertaining to our studies will be released by the University of Minnesota, Anatomy Bequest Program.