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IIAM's Role in the Gift
of Body Program
IIAM is a link between donors and scientific research and education, providing much needed anatomical tissues and organs to researchers, scientists and clinicians throughout the world. Researchers may be working in the same region as the donor or doing work in an area of medical research of special interest to the donor and/or the donor family.
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Here is what research donor families are saying:
"Donating his body to research was a continuation in death of the way he lived his life."
"His last wish was to donate himself to research so that others would not have to suffer as he did. He unselfishly gave of himself to others while living, he also gave of himself after death, because his spirit is eternal."
IIAM takes part in the American Association of Tissue Bank's efforts (AATB) to create the Accreditation Standards for Whole Body Donation Programs for Medical Education and Research. Ongoing draft revisions are being done to ensure quality and accurate standards for non-transplant anatomic tissue banks. The final standards are expected by 2010.
IIAM Services for Gift of Body Families
Following the referral of a Gift of Body donor, an IIAM coordinator will contact the family to discuss the procedure and obtain a brief medical and social history of the deceased. At the same time, informed consent for research will be obtained.
When IIAM obtains consent for a donation, the family will be given information they need to fully understand the process including:
Cost
The family will be informed that there is no cost to them for research donation.
Procedures
The IIAM coordinator will explain the surgical removal of donated organs and tissues, the amount of time involved, and will communicate with the family's funeral director if the body is going to be returned for traditional funeral services or cremation.
Disposition of the Body
IAM will provide cremation for all Gift of Body donors at no cost to the family. The donor family/authorizing party will be offered 3 options: return of cremated remains, interment, or scattering at an IIAM memorial site.
Donor Recognition
The coordinator will tell the donor family about IIAM donor recognition ceremonies to which families are invited, and about the IIAM Donor Memorial for which the families are encouraged to contribute an artifact from the donor's life for permanent display.
Donor Family Aftercare Services
Services that are provided to donor families include:
- Option to receive cremains following donation, or interment of cremains at IIAM's memorial site (Greenwood Cemetery, Allentown, PA or Phoenix Memorial Park and Mortuary, Phoenix, AZ)
- "Thank You" letter to donor family with summary of benefits to medical research as a result of the donation
- Filing of death certificate
- Ability to participate at interment ceremony at the IIAM burial sites
- "Gift of Life Donor Pin" provided to donor family
- Receive To "Give and Grieve" newsletter offered through National Kidney Foundation
- Receive "The Next Place" by Warren Hanson to assist the donor family with their grieving process upon request
- Participate in the IIAM Donor Memorial located in Jessup, PA, and Phoenix, AZ honoring donors through special mementos contributed by surviving family and friends
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