Body Donation FAQ

We ask that you inform your family of your wishes and your intent to donate your body after death. We strongly recommend that you identify a person (next of kin or legal representative) to be responsible for informing the program following your death.

Following the death of a Willed Body Donor, the next of kin, legal representative, or medical personnel should contact the program at 864-455-9884. Once the family is ready for us to pick up the body, the program will make arrangements for transportation of the body to the facility.

The next of kin, legal representative, or medical personnel should contact the program at 864-455-1011.

If a donor dies at home, the first call should be to the coroner’s office in the county of death. After the coroner’s office has been called and the body released, the Willed Body Program may be called. The coroner’s office should fax the Burial/Transit Permit to the program at 864-455-9884.

If you spend time in another state, we suggest you arrange donation intent in both states where you spend your time.

If a donor passes away outside of the state of South Carolina, we advise the next of kin to have the body donated to a local program. If the family specifically wants the donor returned for acceptance at the Willed Body Program, then the next of kin is responsible for all transportation fees.

If a donor passes away while overseas, we suggest that the next of kin arrange for direct cremation and cancel the intent of the donation. The cost and time involved in transporting a decedent back to the U.S. add an excessive amount of stress during an already stressful time. We ask that the next of kin inform us or the alternate program of the decision so that the donor file may be updated accordingly.

Only if the next of kin wishes to engage a funeral home, or wishes to hold memorial services for the donor, then please request that the funeral home personnel contact the program so that we can explain the Willed Body protocol. Any deviation from our standard protocol may cause the donation to be declined.

We prefer that the embalming is performed by the program personnel. However, if a body is already embalmed, it can be accepted if the embalming meets certain specifications.

Yes. As long as the body is kept cool and transported within 48 hours of death. It is preferred that the next of kin hold a memorial service without the body present in order to maintain the integrity of the body. Any ceremony arrangements are the responsibility of the next of kin. If there are individuals traveling from a distance to pay respects, we can delay transport as long as the body is kept cool and transported within 48 hours of death. However, any delay in transport of the body must be discussed with program personnel. The next of kin will be responsible for any finance charges.

No. The Willed Body Program does not have the facilities for any type of viewing.

The Willed Body Program, medical students, and professors sponsor a memorial service once a year for all donors who passed away during that year. Family and friends will be invited to join us at this yearly service.

There are no charges from the Willed Body Program. However, the next of kin will be responsible for any charges for the services of a funeral home. The Willed Body Program will cover transportation charges ONLY. The family will be responsible for any funeral arrangements or other fees. There is no reimbursement or exchange of monies for the donation of a body. For donors who have moved out of South Carolina to a neighboring state and did not wish to transfer to a local donor program, the next of kin is responsible for arranging for transportation of the body to the Willed Body Program.

The program will assist the family in filing for death certificates. A certified copy will be provided to the family free of charge. You may obtain additional certified copies from the bureau of vital statistics of the state where the death occurred.

Any jewelry or other personal effects should be claimed by the next of kin prior to transport to the program. We will not be responsible for any unclaimed personal effects.

Yes. You remain a candidate for donation even if you have had an organ or a limb removed.

The only type of postmortem (after death) donation allowed in conjunction with the Willed Body Program is eye and skin donation. If the donor wishes to follow this intent, those arrangements must be made in advance with a local hospital or clinic for the harvesting of eyes once death has occurred. These arrangements and any costs incurred are the responsibility of the donor and/or the donor’s next of kin. These procedures must be completed prior to transport to the program as we do not have the facilities or staff to perform this procedure.

There are certain conditions which if present, will prevent acceptance into the Willed Body Program. The following are some examples of circumstances in which the program would not be able to accept a donation:

• Dementia from Creutzfeldt-Jakob (early-onset/rapid death) form of Alzheimer’s
• Infectious diseases or any potential infection which could present a hazard to faculty, staff, or students during the study. e.g., HIV, VRE, hepatitis C (at any time), any current hepatitis, tuberculosis, etc.
• Postmortem donated body parts, other than eyes and skin, to other programs
• Major trauma to the body (e.g., accident, suicide, etc.)
• Any recent (72 hours) radiation, isotope tracing, radioactive angiogram, or radioactive iodine
• Any radioactive implant for cancer treatment
• Objection or refusal of next of kin to donate
• More than 72 hours post mortem (even if stored in cold room/morgue storage)
• Sepsis or open wounds (minor bedsores excepted)
• We do not accept donors that have been autopsied

Next of kin should be prepared to make other arrangements for the body should any of the above conditions be present at the time of the donor’s death.

Your donation intent cannot be changed. The form that you signed donating your body to science following your death is a legal document stating your intent. However, we strongly suggest that each donor discuss their wishes with their next of kin. Donation can only occur if we are informed of the donor’s death. The program will not force a donation against the expressed protests of the family. Therefore, it is best to discuss your feelings about this issue so that your family can accept your decision to donate.

In all cases, it is a good idea to name one particular person as the executor of your last will and testament. The executor should be someone you trust to carry out your instructions for the disposition of your body and your estate. You should also discuss your intent of donation with your family, whether an executor is named or not.

Donation to the Willed Body Program at Greenville Memorial Hospital will be delivered to that location. There are several programs in South Carolina and neighboring states; each has its own criteria for acceptance.

At our discretion, we will decide what each individual donor will be used for. At this time, the specific purpose of the program is the training of medical students, residents and physicians, and other healthcare professionals in all clinical areas at Prisma Health.

If the next of kin does not know the cause of death and wants to find out, an autopsy would be required. An autopsy would prevent acceptance to the program.

Generally, the study period is from six months to two years, depending on the study assignment. At the end of the study period, we will complete the final disposition option documented in the registration forms.

Upon completion of the study, each body will be cremated at the expense of the program. The cremated remains will be returned to the next of kin for disposition if requested. Your next of kin can choose the final disposition of your remains (ashes). If the next of kin does not respond to our communications, the remains will be held in the program offices for 12 months and then interred in the Memorial Garden. It is the responsibility of the next of kin to notify us of any change of address or other contact information. After cremation and interment, the remains cannot be removed.

Anyone wishing to file intent of donation can contact the program for the informational packet containing the forms needed to file. The forms need to be witnessed, but a notary is NOT required. The program is restricted to acceptance for individuals 18 years and older only.

According to section 44‑43‑340 of the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act of the State of South Carolina, a donation may be made after death by having the person who is responsible for the disposition of the body complete an after-death donor form. In the absence of any indication to the contrary, donation at death may be made by the following people in the following order of priority:

• An attorney appointed by the decedent in a durable power of attorney, if the decision is within the scope of his authority.
• The spouse of the decedent unless the spouse and the decedent are legally separated.
• Adult children of the decedent.
• Parents of the decedent.
• Adult siblings of the decedent.
• Adult grandchildren of the decedent.
• Grandparents of the decedent.
• An adult who exhibited special care and concern for the decedent.
• The persons who were acting as the guardians of the person of the decedent at the time of death.
• Any other person authorized or under obligation to dispose of the body.

Any additional questions or concerns can be addressed to us at 864-455-9838. We will be happy to discuss your concerns.