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LMU-DCOM Anatomical Donation Process

The Donation Process

 

A donation can be made by pre-registering with our program or at the time a death has occurred. By pre-registering you can have all your arrangements made and ease the process for your family or agent. For those who are unable to pre-register with our program, their next of kin or legally designated agent may still file an application for donorship at the time of death.

We want you and your family to be comfortable with your choice. If you have decided that donation is the best option for you and your family, we encourage you to pre-register by following the directions below. You will also see the process for how to donate a loved one at the time of death.

Occasionally, there are circumstances which prevent our program from being able to accept a donor. If a donation cannot be accepted, a donor and their next of kin should have an alternative plan in place. Review our Frequently Asked Questions and familiarize yourself with our program. Contact us with any questions about our program or body donation.


 

Directions

Click on the title or (+) to expand each section to learn more.
  •   How to pre-register for the LMU-DCOM Anatomical Donation Program
    1. Download the Registration Packet. If you prefer to have a donor registration packet mailed to you, please Call Us to request one.
    2. Once you have received the paperwork, please fill out the entire packet and then initial and sign in the presence of two witnesses.
    3. After the paperwork has been completed, the original document must be sent to the LMU-DCOM Anatomical Donation Program. The paperwork must be completed in full for us to process and consider an applicant for an anatomical donation, and we must have the completed original documents before any donation can be accepted.
    4. Once you are tentatively accepted as a pre-registered donor, you will receive the tentative acceptance packet. This will include:
      1. A letter and instructions from our Executive Director
      2. Two photocopies of the completed donor form: one copy for the donor's records and one copy for the next of kin or executor to keep in the event of the donor's death
      3. The Voluntary Medical History Form
      4. Two copies of a donor wallet card with contact information
    5. Please make sure that you have assigned someone the position of "Informant.” This person will inform the LMU-DCOM ADP when a death has occurred. Depending on the specific circumstances, a health care provider may make the initial call to our program; however, it is the responsibility of the Informant or donor’s family to ensure that the program has been notified in a timely manner.
    6. At the time of death, a health care provider will need to confirm some health information about the donor.
    7. A program representative will begin arranging to have the donor taken into the care of our program once the application for donorship has been fully processed and accepted.
  •   How to donate a loved one at the time of death

    We have a limited timeframe to process the at-need application and receive a donation at the time of death. The legal informant or next of kin will complete the donation process.

    1. The Informant or next of kin must contact our program and let them know that a death has occurred, and that it was the wish of the deceased to donate their body for health science education and research.
    2. The informant or next of kin will be asked some initial questions to establish if the donor is qualified for our program.
    3. Once it has been established that a donor is qualified for our program, the informant or next of kin will complete an electronic version of our At-Need Donor Packet and complete the E-signature.
    4. A health care representative must be available to verify the health questions needed to accept a donor.
    5. A program representative will begin arranging to have the donor taken into the care of our program once the application for donorship has been fully processed and accepted.