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 Whole 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 whole body donation to science will take place.

Can I donate body parts or just the whole 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 Whole Body Donation to Science online by going to our “Get Started” page, or by calling us.

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

No. Unlike many medical school programs, BioGift requires no pre-registration for our whole full 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 full 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 the U.S*., filing 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 cremated remains, if desired will be done as directed by the instructions on the cremation authorization form. Certified copies of the death certificate can be provided for a fee of $2 to $25, depending on the particular state or county charges.

* If our transportation cost exceeds $1500, we are unable to accept the donation. If this situation is anticipated, we will contact you with the option to pay the additional expense to proceed with the donation.

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.

Who would 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 by us 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 d 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)
Batten disease
Biomechanical Medical Device Research
Arthritis
Bipolar disorder
Cancer
Cushing’s syndrome
Diabetic Neuropathy
Guillain-Barre syndrome
Huntington’s disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Muscular Dystrophy
Myasthenia Gravis
Osteoporosis
Parkinson’s disease
Schizophrenia
Skeletal Fractures
Sjogren’s syndrome
Trigeminal Neuralgia

What about medical education?

BioGift distributes tissues for surgical education and for creating and improving medical instrumentation or medical devices. Full body donation to science provides surgeons with unparalleled hands-on educational experience prior to performing on their patients.

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?

It is important to let your family know of your wishes as they will be asked for consent if the appropriate conditions occur for donation of your organs and tissues for transplant. If you reside in Oregon or Washington, you are acceptable for BioGift’s full body donation program regardless of what was recovered for transplant. If you reside outside of Oregon or Washington, we cannot accept donors who have donated for transplant with the exception of eye donation.

Is the whole body cremated and returned to family?

Eventually the whole 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 (8-12) 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 the certified copies to arrive within two (2) weeks time, but some circumstances may make the process longer.

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.

Can I specify what research may be benefited from my gift?

BioGift will make every effort to place the specific tissues as requested. However, age, medical history or time constraints may prohibit the tissues being accepted for a specific purpose.

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 send us an email and we will respond to you within one business day.

How do I get started?

Click here to request an information packet!