Who may make a donation?
A. Anyone 18 years or older.
B. Parents may donate the body
of a minor child.
Will the school accept
my donation if my next of kin objects?
The Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences prefers not to accept your donated body if your next
of kin objects. Therefore, a potential donor should discuss
his or her plans thoroughly before returning the completed
consent forms.
Will the Medical School accept
the donation after removal of organs or eyes?
Because the program requires the intact
body for its studies, bodies with organs donated or upon
whom autopsies have been performed cannot be accepted. The
program, however, encourages your consideration of a donation
of your eyes because this will not interfere with our studies.
We will be happy to include an eye donor brochure along with
our consent forms if you request one.
What arragements need to be
made? You need to fill out the Declaration
of Consent form. This form can be obtained by either calling
the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences at 829-2912, requesting
one online from this web site (Go to online forms request).
If you would rather you may choose to print a Declaration and
Consent form yourself by going to (Print Declaration & Consent Form).
The form which will requires your signature and the signature
of two witnesses at least 18 years of age. Notarization
will not be required.
One copy will
be kept by you at home or in a lawyer's office. Due to
legal restrictions, safe deposit boxes are not satisfactory.
You should give a photocopy to your next of kin, lawyer,
and/or physician so that another person is aware of your
wishes.
You will
return the original form, together with
a copy of the Emergency Contact Information
Form to the Department of Pathology and
Anatomical Sciences at the State University
of New York at Buffalo, and you will in
turn receive a wallet card indicating your
registration in the program.
Please understand
that simply indicating your wishes to be a donor on your
automobile license is not an acceptable method of donation.
You must also register in our program.
Any inquiries regarding the donor program should be made
to 829-2912 or by letter to the address indicated.
Will payment be made for the
user of the body?
No. The laws
of New York State and all other states specifically prohibit
the giving of "anything of value" in
return for a bequeathal or donation of organs or bodies.
This means that no cash payment can be made to a donor
or to survivors.
Can I change my mind after I
have donated my body? You certainly
can change your mind, but this request must be made in writing.
This letter need not be witnessed or notarized.
What if my name or address is
changed? If you should
change your name or address, please notify
the Department as soon as possible at 829-2912,
by letter to the address indicated below or
use the Name / Address Change Request From
available on the Forms and Brochures page.
A new wallet card will be sent to you in the
mail.
Will my body be used for teaching
or research ? Most bodies are used to teach medical, dental and
allied health students. Some are used for the continuing education
program for physicians. Others are used in research programs
conducted by the faculty of the State University of New
York at Buffalo. A small number of bodies are shared with other
teaching institutions within the state who have the need
for anatomical material.
How long will it be before
my body is used and cremated? Some
bodies may be used immediately and cremated within one or
two months after delivery, but most are cremated within 18
months. A few may be held longer for study before cremation.
What happens to my remains?
The remains of all bodies are
cremated after our studies are completed. Each donor has
a choice of one of three options for interment of his
or her ashes. These options are:
Shrine of the
Ninth Station of the Cross, Mt. Olivet Cemetery,
4000 Elmwood Avenue, Kenmore, New York 14217, There
is no charge for this option.
University Cemetery - The University maintains
a burial site on the grounds of the Little White
Church at the North (Amherst) Campus of the State University
of New York at Buffalo. There is no charge for this option.
A memorial service to honor these donors is conducted
every eighteen months to two years.
Ashes may be returned
to the next of kin or to a friend of the donor or to a
cemetery of your choice, provided arrangements have been made
with that cemetery ahead of time. The recipient of the
ashes will be notified by mail two weeks prior to delivery of
the ashes. The ashes are placed in a plastic receptacle
inside a cardboard container, wrapped in brown paper, and shipped
by "CERTIFIED MAIL" - "RETURN
RECEIPT REQUESTED."
Final Disposition The University will
retain all cremains for a period of two years after the date
of cremation before final placement in the University Cemetery
or Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
What happens at the time of
death? A physician will make
the pronouncement of death and will sign the death certificate.
If death occurs at home, your family should contact our office
at 829-2912 IMMEDIATELY. If death occurs in a hospital or
nursing home, they will contact our office. After verification
of records, the school's funeral director will be notified
and arrangements for transportation to the medical school
will be made. There is no expense unless death occurs outside
a 100 mile radius of the school. In that case, your estate
will have to pay transportation expenses beyond that 100
mile limit. It is recommended that a donor register with
another medical school if he or she will be away from this
area for an extended period or permanently.
Family responsibilities: Arrangements
for memorial services, death notice, notification to Social
Security, insurance claims, and/or Veteran's Administration
are the responsibility of the family and/or friends.
Other information: No charges are made to the donor
or next of kin for services offered by the Department
except for those bodies which must be brought to the University
from outside the 100 mile limit. The University bears
the considerable expense of this program as part of its teaching
and research responsibilities.
A number of donors and
their families have appreciated this lack of a charge and
the savings which relate to this service and have requested
information as to how they may contribute further to supporting
the research and teaching efforts of the Department. In response,
a special fund has been set up in the University at Buffalo
Foundation, so that gifts or donations of money may be
directed to the Anatomy Department Development Fund.
Family
or friends may also wish to honor the memory of the deceased
by contributing to the Fund. A check may be made out to the
"University
at Buffalo Foundation-Account #9333-086126"
and
sent to the address below, or the donor may choose to include
the Department in his or her will. Since the Foundation
is a not-for-profit organization, such a contribution is
tax deductible.
University at Buffalo Foundation
Box 900 Buffalo,
NY 14226-0900
