Frequently Asked Questions About Full Body Donation

What does BioGift do?

BioGift is a medical research and education full body donation program, which helps you to donate your body to science.

BioGift does not perform any medical research or education; we simply help people interested in donating your body to science. We recover, process, store and distribute organs, tissue and specimens to well known and respected companies and institutions across the country.

Can I pre-register with BioGift’s Body Donation to Science Program?

Yes, talking about your decision, when you want to donate your body to science, with those responsible for your final arrangements helps to ensure that body donation to science will take place.

Can I donate body parts or just the body?

No, you may not donate body parts. BioGift accepts only full body donation.

How do I pre-register for donating my body to science?

You can request a registration information packet for Body Donation to Science online by going to our “Get Started” page, or by calling us.

Is pre-registration with BioGift’s Body Donation to Science necessary?

No. Unlike many medical school programs, BioGift requires no pre-registration for our body donation program. Consent to donate can be given by your legal next-of-kin(s). If there is more than one legal next-of-kin, all must be in agreement to donate.

What are the costs to my family to donating my body to science?

With BioGift’s body donation program, there are no costs associated with the donation process for donating bodies to science. This includes the transportation of yours or your loved one’s body from anywhere within our service area, filing for the transportation permit and two death certificates with each accepted donation. The cremation of the remainder of the body not utilized will take place in Oregon. The return of the partial amount of cremated remains, if desired will be done as directed by the instructions on the cremation authorization form. We provide two certified copies of the death certificates.

Who can donate a body?

Almost everyone is a candidate regardless of age or current state of health. Age, disease, or state of health does not eliminate an individual from being a donor, but may affect what tissues can be used from the donated body. Medical research and education criteria for donation are less stringent than for transplant donation.

Why would I be declined for medical research and education donation?

Most of the general population is eligible for donation of body to science. However, we cannot guarantee that a body donation for medical research is suitable until a determination is made at the time of death.

Donors with active communicable diseases (diseases that can be passed from person to person such as viral Hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease or Tuberculosis) may not donate. Other factors may prohibit donating to BioGift such as severe obesity (>50% over normal weight), excessive edema, decomposition, trauma or embalming.

Where do the organs, tissues and specimens donated for research and education go when I’m donating my body to science?

The tissues are placed with respected academic, government, corporate, and private institutions, as well as continuing education cadaver labs. All researchers and educators receiving tissues from BioGift must complete a stringent application and agreement, and follow strict confidentiality procedures.

What types of research do you support?

Here is a non-comprehensive and growing list of medical research endeavors that we currently support. This list can change as the researcher’s needs determine.

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease)
• Biomechanical Medical Device Research
• Bipolar disorder
• New Diagnostic Imaging
• Huntington’s disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Osteoporosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Schizophrenia
• Skeletal Fractures
• Trigeminal Neuralgia

What about medical education?

BioGift provides tissues to medical education centers for surgical training and continuing education requirements. This gives surgeons an unparalleled hands-on educational experience prior to performing on their patients. Surgeons have the opportunity to learn new surgical techniques and improve their skills to give their patients the best possible care.

Who can consent?

In accordance with state and federal laws, BioGift must obtain an informed consent from the donor or legal next-of-kin(s) for you to donate your body to science. If more than one legal next-of-kin exists (i.e. mother/father or siblings), all must be in agreement with the full body donation though only one of the legal next-of-kin are required to complete the official authorization.

What about transplant donation?

We cannot accept donors who have donated for transplant with the exception of eye donation.

Is the body cremated and returned to family?

Eventually the body is medically cremated after all studies are completed. However, only a partial amount of cremated remains are returned to the family within eight to twelve weeks of the donation for closure (the part of the body not used for medical research and education).

How long before I get certified copies of the death certificate?

Certified copies of the death certificate are issued by the county or state where the death occurred. Typically, you can expect certified copies to arrive within four weeks. Each state and county has their own process for filing death certificates. We will mail the death certificates to the next of kin as quickly as we can.

How do I get extra copies of the death certificate?

If you require additional copies of the death certificate, you can contact the county vital records office in the county that the death occurred in. BioGift is not able to take orders for additional certified copies of the death certificate.

Can I change my mind after I register?

Those who change their mind may rescind their consent for donating my body to science by notifying us in writing or by phone.

I have more questions, who may I contact?

If your question needs immediate attention, we are available day or night by contacting our 24 hour donor line: (866) 670-1799. You may also contact us by email and we will respond quickly.

How do I get started?