Cadaver Donation to a Medical School

GENERAL STATEMENT of PURPOSE

To provide guidance for handling inquiries about donating a body after death to a medical school for education or research purposes.

POLICY

It is the policy of Northwell Health to refer all individuals wishing to donate a body after death for the purpose of medical education or research to the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.  A list of other regional medical schools accepting anatomic gifts will be provided upon request (Attachment A).

SCOPE

This policy applies to all Northwell Health employees, as well as medical staff, volunteers, students, trainees, physician office staff, contractors, trustees and other persons performing work for or at Northwell Health; faculty and students of the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell or the Hofstra Northwell School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies conducting research on behalf of the Zucker School of Medicine on or at any Northwell Health facility.

DEFINITIONS

Body - For purposes of this policy, the term "body" is a human corpse and includes a fetus at any gestational age.

Responsible Staff Member - refers to an attending or resident physician (MD or DO), Physician's Assistant (PA), Nurse Practitioner (NP), or Registered Nurse (RN) who was involved in a patient's care while that patient was treated within a Northwell Health facility.

PROCEDURE/GUIDELINES

In accordance with the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act and the laws of New York State and New York City, a body can be donated but cannot be sold.   A donated body must be received by the accepting medical school within 24 hours of death, which generally precludes any planned religious services, body viewings, or wakes. A medical school requires intact bodies and therefore will not accept a body that has been embalmed or autopsied or from which organs (other than eyes or skin) have been removed.

Northwell Health facilities do not accept bodies for donation, and their staff members have no responsibility beyond providing contact information to those individuals inquiring about donating a body to a medical school. The making and handling of all arrangements between an individual donating a body to a medical school and the medical school are the responsibility of the individual. The individual must inform the Admitting/Patient Access Services Department of the Northwell Health facility in which the body is being held of the institution to which the body is being donated.

Competent persons at least 18 years of age can arrange to donate their bodies after death. A body may also be donated after death by the next-of-kin or other legally designated party as set forth in New York State Code - Section 4301:

• Decedent's Agent for disposition of remains (Burial Agent).
• Decedent's Spouse, if not legally separated, or domestic partner.
• Adult Children (18 years or old).
• Either Parent of the decedent.
• Adult Siblings (18 years or older).
• Decedent's Guardian at the time of the decedent's death.
• Any other person authorized or under the obligation to dispose of the decedent's body.

When a body is being donated, a responsible staff member must complete a death certificate.  Upon receipt of all appropriate documentation, the Northwell Health facility will release the body directly to the Medical School through a funeral director associated with said school.  The Medical School is financially responsible for removal of the body from the Northwell Health System facility and the transportation of the body to the Medical School.  The Medical School is also financially responsible for obtaining all necessary permits. Transportation expenses not paid for by the Medical School are the responsibility of the individual initiating the body donation process.

REFERENCES to REGULATIONS and/or OTHER RELATED POLICIES

• System Administrative Policy #700.03-Organ and Tissue Donation
• System Administrative Policy #100.13-Patient Deaths, Medical Examiner Notification Criteria, and Request for Autopsies
• Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Brochure - The Whole Body Anatomical Gift Program
• (http://medicine.hofstra.edu/agp/)
• National Organ Transplantation Act
• New York State Code 4031