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IIAM's Role in the Gift
of Body Program
IIAM is a link between donors and scientific research and education. Through our partnership with Platinum Training, whole body donors are providing much needed tissues to researchers, surgeons 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 Gift of Body Program / Whole Body Donation
Almost anyone can be considered for donation into our Gift of Body Program. Donor age and medical history are always documented, however are not necessarily a rule-out for our program. Click here for complete IIAM Donor Criteria
Donor criteria:
- Donors of all ages
- Medical histories may include cancer, neurological disorders (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, etc.) and other long-term illnesses
- Medical and social history is reviewed for suitability and high-risk assessment
- Eye and organ donors for transplantation may still be considered as potential research donors post-recovery but not tissue donors
- Next-of-kin authorization for donations to IIAM is always required, and will be coordinated by IIAM
- Potential donors should be referred to IIAM within 24 hours of death
IIAM Services for Gift of Body Families
Following the referral of a whole 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, authorization for research will be obtained.
When IIAM obtains authorization 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 that there may be surgical dissection involved and the amount of time this will incur.
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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