FAQ About Body Donation

We serve as the bridge between a donor and the medical researchers and educators that rely on donors to help discover cures for diseases and develop new and effective treatments and therapies. We do this by acquiring, recovering, processing, storing and distributing organs and tissues to approved medical researchers and educators.

We will review your medical history at the time of death to determine which research and / or education your body donation will contribute to and match it to the researcher and/or education best suited to your donation. We don't know in advance what research/education that will be - it is based on the needs at that time.  Your family can request a letter explaining the research/education your body donation supported. Each donation contributes to medical advancements in an important and unique way.

Most people who want to donate can!  There is no upper age limit and most disease processes are acceptable.   The most common reasons for decline are a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B or C, history of illegal drug use, incarceration or institutionalization and being severely over or under weight at the time of death.  MedCure accepts donations from all states within the continental United States except New Jersey and Minnesota.

You may pre-register by completing three forms: a Donor Consent form, a Cremation Authorization form and a Death Certificate Vitals Worksheet. You can download the forms from our website or request they be mailed to you or by calling 1-866-560-2525.

Once your forms have been received by MedCure, we will issue you a Donor Card to carry with you. When you decide to donate your body, it is important to inform all of your family of your decision. It is your family who will be responsible for contacting MedCure at the time of your death.

Cremated remains are sent to your family in approximately four to six weeks from the time of passing. Certified death certificates are usually received within four weeks depending on the state or county that processes them.

Transplant donation and whole body donation are separate programs requiring separate consent. The symbol on your driver license indicates your intent to be a transplant donor. With whole body donation, your organs and tissue will never be transplanted into another person, but rather benefit medical science through research and education.

If you register for both transplant donation and whole body donation, priority will be given to transplant donation because of the opportunity to save a life.

No. Once a candidate for donation is accepted at the time of passing, MedCure covers all expenses related to the donation process. We work with licensed funeral directors in your area to arrange for transportation, cremation, two copies of the death certificate and the return of cremated remains to your family in a heart-shaped urn in approximately 4 to 6 weeks or a scattering at sea.

MedCure is funded on a cost recovery system. We receive compensation from the researchers and educators that rely on donations to further their study for the costs incurred in donor recovery, transportation, testing, processing, matching donors with medical researcher needs, cremation and return of cremated remains to family. The Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (2006) prohibits the sale of human organs or tissue.

We are available by phone 24 hours everyday, 1.866.560.2525. Our email address is info@medcure.org and emails are answered Monday - Friday (except holidays).

The grief that follows a loss of someone dear to you can seem unbearable. The grieving process can bring up a variety of emotions that individuals may not always understand or be prepared to deal with on their own. If your family member passed away under hospice care, there may be grief counseling available for family members by contacting the hospice. Hospices also can direct you to local grief counselors or you can find them yourself in the local telephone directory or online.    

Here are website links to articles and information on working grief support:

The Grief Minister

Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC)

Hospice Foundation of America (HFA)

Mental Health America (MHA)

Upon notification of your death and donor acceptance, MedCure will arrange for your transportation and care through the services of a licensed funeral home at no expense to your family.

If you would like your donation to benefit a specific medical research study or university, we recommend you contact that organization and register with their program directly. We cannot guarantee that it will be possible to match your donation to a specific institution or research study at the time of your death - it is based on the researchers' needs at that time.  You can be assured your donation will benefit important medical research and /or education through MedCure's program.  Your family may request a letter from us to learn how your donation supported medical science.

With whole body donation open casket viewing is not possible. However, a memorial service with cremated remains is very common with our donor families.

This is possible in only a few cases. After death has occurred, if your organs or tissues are gifted in transplant and you also request to donate to medical science and education, MedCure may be able to arrange this.

If you are receiving hospice care and would like to donate, we encourage you to contact us at 1-866-560-2525 anytime, 24 hours a day for pre-screening.

This will allow us to make sure we have all consent forms completed properly and in our possession, obtain information about your medical history, identify any potential obstacles in advance and decrease the questions and information your family has to provide at the time of death.