Donor Information and Policy Guide
About the Willed Body Program
Since 1967, whole body donors have played a vital role in educating healthcare professionals at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and other accredited educational institutions throughout the United States.
Through the generosity of our donors, we continue a long-standing tradition of educating future healthcare professionals. We are committed to honoring each donor with dignity and respect in accordance with the Arizona Anatomical Gift Act.
Before You Enroll
Whole body donation is an important personal decision. We encourage you to discuss your decision with your family or representative and others who may be involved in carrying out your final arrangements. It is not necessary to include your decision to donate your body in your will.
Enrollment in the Willed Body Program does not guarantee acceptance at the time of death. Acceptance is determined at the time of death based on eligibility requirements.
Eligibility and Acceptance
Anyone who is 18 years of age or older, is competent to make the decision to donate, and is at least a part-time resident of Arizona may enroll in the Willed Body Program. There is no upper age limit.
Donations can only be accepted if the donor dies within the state of Arizona. If a donor dies outside of Arizona, the Willed Body Program is unable to accept the donation.
Donors must be enrolled before death to be considered for acceptance into the Willed Body Program.
Enrollment does not guarantee acceptance.
Costs
There is no fee to enroll in the Willed Body Program. The Willed Body Program covers the costs of transportation and cremation for accepted donors. If a family chooses to use a funeral home, any costs associated with funeral services or transportation are the responsibility of the donor's family or representative.
Educational institutions that receive donors from the Willed Body Program may be charged fees for services associated with the preparation, transportation, care, and administration of the donation. These fees help offset the costs of operating the Willed Body Program and are paid by the receiving institution, never by the donor or the donor's family. The fees are not payment for the donor or the anatomical gift.
Reasons a Donation May Be Declined
Final acceptance is determined at the time of death. Reasons a donation may be declined include, but are not limited to:
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Because acceptance cannot be guaranteed, we encourage donors to let their family or representative know their wishes in the event the donation cannot be accepted.
Enrollment
Enrollment forms must be completed and signed by the donor. Enrollment cannot be completed on behalf of another person. This helps ensure that each donation reflects the donor's own wishes and informed consent.
The original enrollment forms containing the donor's handwritten signature must be mailed to:
Willed Body Program
PO Box 245045
Tucson, AZ 85724-5045
We recommend keeping a copy of the completed forms for your records and providing copies to your family or representative and healthcare provider.
Once your enrollment has been processed, you will receive a Body Donor Card confirming your enrollment in the Willed Body Program. Please carry the card with you, as it includes the phone numbers to call at the time of death. Please allow up to four weeks for processing and delivery of your Body Donor Card.
Changes or Revocation
A donors may update their contact or enrollment information at any time prior to death by calling the Willed Body Program at (520) 626-6083.
To revoke an anatomical gift, consistent with the signed-record method described in A.R.S. § 36-845, a donor must call the Willed Body Program at (520) 626-6083 and complete a signed Revocation Record (Withdrawal Form), which the Program will provide by mail or email. The revocation or amendment takes effect once the Program receives the signed record. If a donor is physically unable to sign, the record may be signed by another individual at the donor's direction and must be witnessed by at least two adults, at least one of whom is a disinterested witness (a person other than the donor's spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandchild, grandparent, or guardian). A donor who is terminally ill or injured may also amend or revoke an anatomical gift that was not made in a will by any form of communication addressed to at least two adults, at least one of whom is a disinterested witness, consistent with A.R.S. § 36-845.
At the Time of Death
After the donor's death has been pronounced, a family member, representative, or healthcare provider should call the phone number listed on the Body Donor Card. Final acceptance into the Willed Body Program will be determined at that time.
The Willed Body Program is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Notification should be made as soon as possible after death, as delays may affect acceptance depending on the circumstances and the condition of the donor.
Families wishing to have religious rites or blessings performed with the donor present should do so before transportation.
If the donor is accepted, transportation to the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson will be arranged. Transportation originates from Tucson and may take several hours to arrive, depending on where the donor is located. Families may choose, at their own expense, to have a local funeral home hold the donor until transportation arrives. Please do not arrange transportation before speaking with the Willed Body Program.
If the donation cannot be accepted, the donor's family or representative will need to make other arrangements.
Viewing and Funeral Services
Viewing is not possible after the donor has arrived at the Willed Body Program. Families who wish to have a private viewing may make arrangements with a local funeral home before the donor is transported to the University of Arizona. Any costs associated with these arrangements are the responsibility of the family.
Traditional funeral services, including embalming and public visitation, are not possible due to the time-sensitive nature of the donation process.
Death Certificates
The Willed Body Program coordinates the filing of the donor's death certificate. Once the death certificate has been filed, we will provide the legal next of kin with information on how to order certified copies. Please allow up to two weeks for the death certificate to be filed with the State of Arizona.
The Social Security Administration is automatically notified once the donor's death is registered with the State of Arizona.
The Willed Body Program cannot provide certified copies of the death certificate. Arizona is a closed-record state and proof of relationship to the donor or legal interest is required to obtain certified copies. Any fees for certified copies are paid directly to the agency issuing the death certificate and are not charged by the Willed Body Program.
Personal Property
Whenever possible, jewelry, valuables, and other personal belongings should be removed before transportation to the University of Arizona. Families should not send items of sentimental or monetary value with the donor.
Personal property received with the donor will be documented at the time of transportation and returned to the donor's family or representative whenever practical. The Willed Body Program cannot be responsible for items that are not documented as accompanying the donor.
Clothing, blankets, linens, and similar items accompanying the donor may become soiled during transportation or donor care and cannot be cleaned or laundered by the Willed Body Program. These items will not be retained and will be discarded.
Medical Implants and Devices
Medical implants and devices may be removed during preparation, educational use, or final disposition. Certain implants may be recycled following cremation in accordance with applicable laws and industry practices.
How Your Donation May Be Used
Once accepted, each donor's use is determined by the Willed Body Program based on current educational and research needs. Donors and their families or representatives cannot direct or restrict the specific use of the donation.
Preparation and Use
Depending on educational and research needs, donors may be chemically preserved or used in an unembalmed state. Donors may be used for dissection, medical procedures, physical examinations, and other activities supporting health professional education and research. A donor may be used for more than one purpose during their participation in the Willed Body Program.
During preparation or use, tissues, organs, limbs, skeletal material, or other anatomical structures may be removed or separated from the body.
Organ and Tissue Transplantation
The Willed Body Program is a whole-body donation program dedicated to health professional education and research. Organs and tissues are not recovered for transplantation.
Retention of Anatomical Material
Certain anatomical or pathological structures may be retained for continued use in health professional education and research. Retained material may not be returned to the donor's body for final disposition. Anatomical material that is no longer individually identifiable may be cremated with anatomical material from other donors.
Photography and Digital Materials
Photographs, images, and other digital representations of a donor or anatomical structures may be created, used, and retained for health professional education and research. These materials must not include identifiable features and may only be created and used in accordance with University policies.
Commercial Products and Materials
Educational or research activities involving a donor may contribute to the development of educational materials, technologies, medical devices, or other products. These products may be developed, distributed, or sold commercially. Donors and their families or representatives will not receive compensation or other financial benefit from products developed through the use of the donation.
Transfer to Other Institutions
Donors may be transferred to other accredited educational institutions within the United States for health professional education and research. Institutions receiving donors are required to follow applicable laws and University of Arizona policies for the respectful care and use of donors. Following completion of the approved use, the donor will be returned to the Willed Body Program.
Future Uses
Health professional education and research continue to evolve. Future advances may result in uses of a donation that are not known or anticipated at the time of enrollment. All activities involving donors will remain subject to applicable laws and University of Arizona policies.
Information About Donor Use
The Willed Body Program maintains records regarding the use and location of each donor. Information regarding specific educational or research activities is not provided to families or representatives.
The Willed Body Program does not perform diagnostic examinations or maintain records of pathological findings. Although anatomical or pathological findings may be observed during educational or research activities, these observations are made for educational or research purposes and are not evaluated for diagnosis by a qualified medical professional. For this reason, we are unable to provide medical findings or reports to families or representatives.
Privacy and Donor Information
Information needed to complete and register the Arizona Certificate of Death is collected at the time of enrollment. Donors are also asked to provide basic medical and surgical history to assist with eligibility.
Limited donor information may be provided to individuals participating in approved educational or research activities. This may include the donor's age, cause of death, medical and surgical history, occupation, and any message the donor has chosen to share. Other personally identifying information is not provided for educational or research use.
Donor information may also be disclosed as required by applicable law.
Donor records and personal information are maintained securely and access is limited to authorized individuals.
Infectious Disease Testing
All donors are tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV upon arrival at the Willed Body Program. Test results are used to determine whether a donor can be used for health professional education and research. Test results are not provided to families or representatives.
Final Disposition
Upon completion of a donor's participation in the Willed Body Program, the donor will be cremated or another lawful method of final disposition may be used. Currently, donors are cremated individually in accordance with Arizona law.
Due to the nature of the Willed Body Program, final disposition may take up to two years. Donors remain in the care of the Willed Body Program through final disposition and cannot be returned to families or representatives prior to cremation. Only cremated remains may be returned. The donor's preference regarding the return of cremated remains is documented at the time of enrollment. Families or representatives may also request the return of cremated remains after the donor's death.
If cremated remains are not returned, they will be scattered by the Willed Body Program in accordance with Arizona law and cannot be recovered after scattering.
Memorial Service
Each year, the Willed Body Program holds a memorial service to honor donors and recognize their contributions to health professional education. Family, friends, and loved ones of donors are invited to attend. The service provides an opportunity for students to express their gratitude and for the University of Arizona community to honor the lives and generosity of our donors.
Changes to Program Policies
The Willed Body Program may revise its policies and procedures as practices, educational and research needs, or applicable laws change. Donors are not required to complete a new authorization when policies or procedures are revised.
The current Donor Information and Policy Guide is available on the Willed Body Program website or by contacting the office at (520) 626-6083.
Legal Information
Anatomical gifts in Arizona are governed by the Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, codified at A.R.S. §§ 36-841 through 36-864.
Questions
If you have questions about enrollment, donation, or the information contained in the Donor Information and Policy Guide, please contact the Willed Body Program.
Phone: (520) 626-6083
Email: willedbody@arizona.edu
Website: bodydonation.med.arizona.edu