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Enrollment in the program is open to anyone 18 or older. Simply contact the Cleveland Clinic Division of Education at (216) 444-5678. Legal forms will be sent to you, which need to be completed and distributed as indicated. Upon return of one copy to the Body Donation Program, a donor card will be provided, which should be carried at all times.We strongly recommend discussing your intentions with family members, so they can be prepared for the arrangements at the time of death.
Can I donate usable organs for transplantation purposes?
Yes. The donation of useable organs, skin, and eyes will not prevent the donation of a pre-registered body to The Cleveland Clinic. If you have not pre-registered in our program, we reserve the right to determine whether or not to accept the donation.
Must I notify an attorney to donate my body to medical science?
No. This type of gift does not have to be written into your will, although it is permissible to do so.
Is donation possible after an autopsy?
Yes. Autopsies are an important part of medicine and do not prevent the donation of a pre-registered body to The Cleveland Clinic.
Can my body be donated if I have a serious disease at the time of my death or if any of my organs have been removed?
Yes. If you have pre-registered in our program only the most unusual circumstances would prevent us from accepting your donation. These circumstances would include morbid obesity, the presence of an infectious disease, and death caused by severe trauma. If you have not pre-registered in our program, we reserve the right to determine whether or not to accept the donation.
How will my body be used?
The Cleveland Clinic makes donated bodies available for medical education, the advancement of medical science, and research for the development of medical products and techniques.
Can I donate someone else's body, e.g., my wife or husband? This cannot be done while the donor is living. However, after the individual expires the nearest living next-of-kin can donate the body.
Anyone eighteen years of age or older may act as a witness except for persons affiliated with The Cleveland Clinic and relatives.
Will there be any expenses to my family or estate for donating my body to The Cleveland Clinic?
No. We will assume all costs for transportation of a donated body, within a 75-mile radius, to the Clinic, and all costs related to the preparation, storage, and cremation of the body. We will also cover the cost of sending the ashes to the next-of-kin or to a location selected by the next-of-kin for final interment. However, the cost of final interment is the responsibility of the surviving next-of-kin.
What happens if I die away from Cleveland?
If death occurs outside a 75-mile radius from The Cleveland Clinic, at 9500 Euclid Avenue, there are two options. First, The Cleveland Clinic will assist the donor's family in making arrangements to have the remains donated to the closest medical school. Second, if the donor's family still wants the remains to be donated to The Cleveland Clinic, the estate of the deceased or the donor's family will be responsible for all transportation costs.
What type of funeral service is permitted?
Your family may hold a memorial service in the absence of the deceased.
What happens to my body after the medical studies are complete?
Upon completion of medical studies, which may be several weeks to 1 year from the time we received the donated body, the remains are individually cremated and one of three options followed. First, the ashes can be sent to the family for final interment. Second, the ashes can be returned to a location selected by the family for final interment. (The Cleveland Clinic will pay for shipping the ashes, but the cost of final interment is the responsibility of the surviving next-of-kin.) Third, the Clinic's Division of Education can bury the ashes at the Cleveland Clinic's plot.
If I move from the Cleveland area, what happens to my donation?
The Cleveland Clinic does not accept body donations from individuals outside the state of Ohio. To withdraw your donation, notify the Body Donation Program at The Cleveland Clinic. If you wish, we are happy to assist you in contacting a medical school in your new area of residence.
