Can I be an organ donor and still donate my body to AGR?
Yes! AGR fully supports shared organ and certain tissue donations with other organ and tissue banks.
Why should I choose Anatomy Gifts Registry?
AGR operates under a strict code of ethics that provides dignified and compassionate care for donors and donor families. We offer donor families the option of receiving a follow-up letter that provides insight into the many ways their loved one’s donation has benefited medical research and education. AGR also performs the final disposition cremation directly on site and returns ashes to donor families within 4-6 weeks.
Does AGR have acceptance criteria?
Yes. Please call us at (800) 300-5433 for updated information.
Is there a cost to donate a body to AGR?
The only cost associated with our program is a small shipping and handling fee for the return of ashes, should a designated loved one choose to have cremated remains shipped to their attention.
How does my family obtain a copy of a death certificate?
AGR generally refers donor families to the Department of Vital Records for the state in which the person passed. On average it takes 7-10 business days for Vital Records to receive the filed copy. It may take longer in cases where there is a delay in the signing of a death certificate or in cases of involvement by the Medical Examiner. Donor families can also visit www.vitalchek.com to order death certificates online.
Who arranges for transport?
AGR will make all of the arrangements for donor transport by working with funeral homes and transport companies who have expertise in handling whole body donation. It is very important to let your family know not to call a funeral home.
What kind of research work does AGR support?
AGR has a very strict and detail-oriented application process for anyone wishing to request specimens from us. We only work with researchers and medical educators with the goal of providing ethical advancements in medicine.
I’m an organ donor or I’m interested in registering as an organ donor. What’s the difference between organ donation and your program?
You may be familiar with organ donation and registering via your driver’s license issuance/renewal; often showcased by the red heart designation. AGR fully supports organ and tissue donations that enhance lives and can even save them. However, as AGR is a non-transplant whole body donation organization, our program does not perform organ and tissue recovery for transplantation. However, AGR does regularly accept whole body donors after they have already given precious gifts for transplantation.
If one registers to be an organ and/or tissue donor, this does not automatically enroll a person into a whole body donor registry, and loved ones are still given choices of whether to pursue a more traditional mode of final arrangements or to further a donor’s impact on humanity and donate her/his body to science. Scientific body donation is also often still an option if a loved one is ineligible to donate for transplant needs due to circumstances surrounding the passing or due to certain disease processes that preceded the passing.
Can I visit AGR?
Absolutely! We welcome requests for site tours, please contact us at info@anatomygifts.org or call us at (800) 300-5433, from 8:00 am-4:30 pm Monday through Friday.
