After looking up all the costs of a funeral, you might be tempted to look for alternative, cost-effective ways to handle your body after you pass, and you might have come across some information on a no-cost cremation, also known as a whole-body donation. We’ve compiled all the information you need to know on how to donate your body to science (or a whole-body donation) — including where you can donate your body, the initial costs you might incur, and some of the benefits of a body donation.
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How to Donate Your Body to Science
A whole-body donation requires you to find an institution that will accept your body, figure out how to transport your body, and have your body go through a screening process for acceptance. After the institution has finished with your body, your remains will be returned to your family in the form of cremation ashes.
Where Can I Donate My Body to Science
Generally, there are three places where you can donate your body: medical schools, research centers, or private organizations.
If you donate your body to a medical school, your body will most likely be used to train future doctors and they will perform surgeries and study your body. Typically, your body will be studied for up to two years, upon which, your cremation ashes will be returned to your family.
When you donate your body to a research facility, your body will likely be used to progress medicine tests or assist in developing medical devices. Testing could take as little as a month to three years.
Private organizations are available; however, you should research how they will use your body. We’ve seen reports of body donations being used in ways that were explicitly against the family’s wishes.
Why Would I Donate My Body to Science
Donating your body to science is a hard decision to make, but here are a few benefits to a whole-body donation:
It Is a “Green” Option
When you donate your body to science, it is considered to be a “green” option. The body is being used to its fullest potential before being cremated or put to rest, and many environmentalists would consider a whole-body donation an environmentally friendly option for those looking to decrease their carbon footprint after passing.
Want to know more about green burials? We’ve got the skinny on everything you should know about green burial costs and more.
You’ll Be Contributing to Scientific Discoveries or Medical Advancements
If you are a science-driven person, donating your body to science will allow you to contribute to scientific research or medical advances from beyond the grave. While you can’t guarantee how your body will be used, it can give your life more meaning after you pass.
Little to No Cost
According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), an average funeral will cost you around $9,995. If you’re looking for the most cost-effective way to handle your remains, a whole-body donation will be one of the cheapest options for you.
Most institutions will reimburse you for any expenses that you might incur, and they will handle any of the charges related to cremation costs.
Disadvantages of Donating Your Body to Science
Unfortunately, there are disadvantages of donating your body to science. Here’s a breakdown of each con that you should consider before making your decision:
No Choice as to How Your Body Will Be Used
As we’ve stated before, while you can choose the institution where you will be making your donation, it’s impossible to know exactly how your body will be used. Ideally, your body could be used to study the brain, test medical devices, or even train future doctors.
However, it could also be used in ballistic testing like in the famous Jim Stauffer case. Institutions are not obligated to let you know exactly how your body has been used by your family.
You’ll Need to Pay for Initial Expenses
If you’re planning on donating your body after you pass, make sure you have enough money for transportation of your body as you are expected to pay for the initial expenses of transporting the body and keeping the body in a stable condition.
Depending on where you decide to donate your body, costs can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. According to the NFDA, you can expect costs to be around $3,715, but your family will most likely be reimbursed for any costs.
You Won’t Know When or If Your Ashes Will Be Returned
Institutions that you donate your body to can hold your body for any amount of time. They could hold them for a few months to years, and there is no guarantee that your family will receive your cremation ashes.
Because of the nature of whole-body donations, you also won’t be able to host an open-casket funeral. However, that doesn’t have to stop you from having a ceremony that honors your loved ones. If you’re worried about expenses, you can call us at (866) 786-0725 or use our quoting tool for free to discuss options related to funeral insurance.
What Disqualifies You From Donating Your Body to Science
Unfortunately, not everybody will be accepted by the institution you choose. Each institution is different, but we found a list of all the most common reasons your body might not qualify for a whole-body donation according to the Mayo Clinic:
- Donor had an infectious/contagious disease (HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Tuberculosis, prion diseases, etc)
- Next of kin or family objects to your body donation
- Body is not acceptable for anatomical study (extremely emaciated, obese, extensive medical history, extensive surgical history, etc)
- Body has been autopsied, mutilated, or is decomposed
- Not able to transport the body to the institution within the designated time (typically 48 hours within the time of death)
- Body was embalmed or chemically treated before the arrival of the donation institution.
- Donations aren’t needed
At Final Expense Benefits, we encourage anyone thinking about a whole-body donation to have a backup plan in case your body is not accepted by the institution that you choose. If you’re concerned about the financial burden that your family might incur due to your passing, we would love to help you find a final expense insurance that works for you and your financial situation.
Give one of our talented agents a call at (866) 786-0725 or use our quoting tool for free to discover all your options related to burial insurance.
Conclusion
When you donate your body to science, there are a lot of different factors to consider. How will my body be used? Who should I donate my body to? What happens if my body gets rejected from the institution? And, unfortunately, a lot of the answers are ambiguous as well.
There is no guarantee that your body will be used in a way that honors your memory or that your body will be accepted by the institution. If finances are the deal-breaker in your decision, know that there are options available to you. At Final Expense Benefits, we are ready to talk to you every Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST at (866) 786-0725. We also have a free quoting tool available to you 24/7.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Get Paid for Donating Your Body?
No, you will not get paid for donating your body. You will be reimbursed for any initial expenses you could incur.
Where Can I Donate My Body to Science?
You can donate your body to local medical schools, research centers, or private institutions. Make sure you donate your body to a legitimate institution by asking them several questions about how they have used their donations in the past.
Is a Whole-Body Donation a “Green Funeral”?
How Much Does Donating Your Body to Science Cost?
The initial cost of donating your body to science is estimated to cost around $3,715. However, the institution that you donate to should reimburse you for those costs.