FAQs

The program was established to provide human remains for scientific studies essential to education and research

Upon receipt of the completed documents, the program will review and notify you regarding your request to become a registered donor and upon acceptance, an identification card will be sent to you.  This card will have a phone number to call at the time of death.  Your loved ones, physician and/or care facility, should be notified of your wishes and informed of the contact procedure.

Any adult (18 years and older) can register with our program prior to death.  If a person has died and is not registered with the program, the person appointed as power of attorney for health care or the decedent’s surviving spouse/registered domestic partner/legally responsible person may be able to sign the necessary forms.

The University reserves the right to refuse a donation for any reason including medical or pathological reasons or in the rare event that anatomical and research needs have been met.  While this is an uncommon occurrence, it is important that the donor be aware of this possibility and have alternate arrangements in mind.  Any condition that extensively destroys or distorts the normal anatomy of the body can make it difficult to conduct meaningful study. If any of the following situations, conditions or diseases are encountered please call the program for clarification. 

These diseases, if known, will result in a refusal:

• Hepatitis B or C
• Active Tuberculosis
• Creutzfeldt-Jacob’s disease
• HIV/AIDS

 The following reasons may result in refusal to accept; decisions can only be made at the time of death:

• Trauma or autopsy
• Mortuary preparations
• Untreated MRSA/VRSA
• Recent extensive surgery
• Extreme emaciation or obesity
• Suicide or other suspicious deaths
• Deaths reported after 48 hours

Documented physician assisted deaths will not result in refusal at the time of death.

If our program is unable to accept for almost any non-medically related reason, we will make every attempt to transfer the donation to another location within the UC System. These reasons may include the rare occasion where our program is at capacity, significant need at another location, etc. If a donation is not accepted due to infectious disease (for example Hepatitis B) we would not be able to refer the donation elsewhere.

At the time of death, please call the 24-hour death notification phone number located on the donor card. Our answering service will ask a few questions for verification purposes and to determine eligibility for donation at the time of death. If the family is ready, we will go ahead and dispatch our transport service to take the donor into our care.

After studies are completed, the remains are cremated or bio-cremated and scattered or interred in a manner consistent with state law.  The program incurs responsibility for all preparation, cremation and disposition expenses.

No, due to the undetermined length of time and how the body may be used for study, remains cannot be returned to the donor’s family. 

The program will have an original certificate of death filed with the county in which the death occurs, in compliance with the registrar of Births and Deaths.   The donor’s responsible party must obtain copies of the certificate of death.   The program will provide the contact information for the local Registrar.

Withdrawal from the program can be done at any time in writing.

Mail to:
UC San Diego Body Donation Program
9500 Gilman Drive,  #0627
La Jolla, CA 92093-0627

Call the donor program location and request an “Update Packet” and/or a new card.  It is important to keep your information current because it is used to file the death certificate so it is imperative that we have the most up to date and accurate information.

The program can provide information on programs in other states and will work with survivors to accomplish the wishes of the donor.

No, this is the policy of the University of California.