Gift of Body Program
The donation of one’s body is a historically accepted way to contribute meaningfully to
the essential advance of medical science.
The University of Missouri in Columbia receives bodies donated by people who want to advance scientific investigation and education of young doctors. The majority of donated bodies are used for education of students training to be doctors, nurses, and other health professionals. Bodies are also used by physicians and researchers who are involved in more specific anatomical studies in medical specialties such as orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology, and plastic surgery.
Because of these uses, it is essential that the body be intact at the time of donation. Thus we cannot accept a body that has been autopsied or from which major organs have been removed for donation after death. We do encourage those wishing to donate their organs to call the Midwest Transplant Network at 1-800-366-6791 or on-line at the MTN Website (www.mwtn.org). One exception involves donation of eyes. A body from which the eyes have been removed will be accepted in our program. All arrangements for eye donation must be made in advance through the proper agency.
In general the only conditions that prevent body donation are: (1) body not intact (exception of eye donation), (2) presence of certain communicable diseases (tuberculosis, AIDS, hepatitis), (3) large size (over 230 lbs), and (4) body not processed in a timely manner following death.
A request that is often made by the next-of-kin following donation is that a report be made of the physical condition of the deceased. The only way such a report can be made is by a qualified pathologist following a post-mortem examination of the body. Such a post-mortem exam or autopsy disqualifies a body for use in our program; interested parties may contact the Boone and Callaway Counties Medical Examiner .
Anyone of sound mind and over the age of eighteen years may enroll to donate his or her body to the program. The procedure for enrolling in the Gift of Body Program involves completing the donation forms, and sending one original signed copy to the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences (address below). The second copy is to be retained for the donor's own records. A brief personal history form is also to be completed and sent with the donation form. If an individual or his/her next of kin wishes to have their cremated remains returned for local disposition, that information should accompany the donation forms returned to our office or should be included in a note to our office at or following the time of death. There is no cost associated with this service. Any questions concerning the Gift of Body Program should be directed to the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences (see below).
Once an individual enrolls in the program, that record remains on file in the office of the Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences. Completion of the enrollment form does not constitute a contract, but rather an indication of the desire to contribute their body if all conditions are acceptable. If an individual changes his or her decision to participate in the program, written notice to the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences will cause their donation to be canceled and their file will be destroyed at that time.
Upon entering the program, donors receive a wallet card that indicates they have enrolled in the Gift of Body Program. After death, family members generally notify the Gift of Body Program, often by calling the number on the wallet card. The contact information on the card matches the contact information below.
Once received by the medical school, a body is preserved by embalming and remains in the anatomy programs for up to two years or longer. Following use of the body, the body is cremated and may either be buried at the Memorial Park Cemetery in the University of Missouri plot or, if we have instructions on file, the cremated remains may be returned to a family member (or other designated individual) for disposition by them.
Costs that must be paid from the estate of the donor or by the next of kin include, a completion and filing of the Missouri Department of Health Certificate of Death by the appropriate authority (hospital or funeral home), removal and transportation of the body by a funeral home or transport service to the Medical Sciences Building at the University of Missouri, and a light embalming by the funeral home if the body cannot be refrigerated or transported within twenty-four hours of death. Burial in Memorial Park Cemetery following the usual procedure is provided by the University without any charge. The location of graves in the university plot is indicated by a single large memorial stone. The names of the individuals interred are maintained on a master list by year, one copy of which is held at the offices of Memorial Park Cemetery in addition to the copy maintained by our department.
Contact Information
For additional information regarding Gift of Body, please feel free to contact:
Shannon Wetzel, Resident/Medical School Coordinator
Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences
University of Missouri-Columbia Medical Center
M263 Medical Science Building
One Hospital Drive
Columbia, MO 65212
phone: 573-882-3014
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