Body Bequeathal: Donors

Thank you for the interest you have shown in the possibility of bequeathing your body to the University of Kentucky College of Medicine Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology. Should you make this donation we would like to express our appreciation to you for making this important contribution to human welfare. Without the generous gift of donors to the University of Kentucky Body Bequeathal Program, the study and research of human anatomy would not be possible.

The University of Kentucky Body Bequeathal Program is a total body donation program. The University of Kentucky will provide body bequeathal information and forms to any individual who is a resident of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, being of sound mind, and eighteen years of age and who desires to give his or her body to the University of Kentucky Body Bequeathal Program. If an individual is unable, or should fail to complete bequeathal forms prior to his/her death, the next of kin may donate his/her loved one’s body by completing and signing body donation forms provided by the University of Kentucky Body Bequeathal Program. Donors should be aware that, while the bequeathal mechanism has the potential of making his/her body available as a gift to the University of Kentucky Body Bequeathal Program at the time of death, it does not constitute an absolute guarantee that the University of Kentucky Body Bequeathal Program will be able to accept the gift. Presently, the University of Kentucky Body Bequeathal Program must reserve the right to decline, or refuse, individuals for the following current reasons:

• Individuals who have infections or contagious diseases

• Individuals who have had major recent surgery

• Individuals who are extremely obese

• Individuals who die of trauma

• Individuals whose bodies have been partially or completely autopsied

• Individuals who have been organ donors (only exceptions are individuals who have willed their corneas only to the University of Kentucky Lions Eye Bank)

• Individuals who die outside the Commonwealth of Kentucky

• Individuals whose family refuses to pay transportation charges from the place of death to the University of Kentucky

• Individuals who die and have any family member who objects to the bequeathal of there loved one's body to the University of Kentucky

If the University of Kentucky declines or refuses the bequeathal or donation of an individual, it is the family's obligation to make final arrangements. Individuals who are considering body bequeathal may wish to make funeral pre-arrangements with their local funeral director in the event the University of Kentucky is not able to accept the body.

If the University of Kentucky accepts the bequeathal or donation of an individual's body, the University will coordinate receiving the individual from the agency the family chooses to transport their loved one’s body to the University. The bodies of donors will be embalmed and studied for educational and scientific studies in the order in which they are received. Studies may last over a period of years. Viewing of the individual is not possible at the University of Kentucky. Each year an Interfaith Memorial Service is held by the University of Kentucky Body Bequeathal Program. Each service will memorialize multiple donors and is not held immediately after the donor's death. Faculty, staff and students attend and participate in this service to publicly express their appreciation for the donors who have been studied. Family members will be invited to attend this service if they choose to be notified.

Donors and their families may derive comfort from the knowledge that dignity and respect for those who have donated their bodies is maintained at all times. The indispensable contribution that participants in the Body Bequeathal Program have made is fully recognized. The laboratory is restricted and only medical, dental, or health science students, faculty, staff, or students of health-related professions are authorized to use the facility.

It is the policy of the University of Kentucky Body Bequeathal Program that all donors be cremated after studies have been completed. Within the guidelines of our program, the University of Kentucky will follow the instructions of the individual's bequeathal form or next of kin:

• Bury the ashes in the University of Kentucky burial grounds which are currently located in The Lexington Cemetery, 833 West Main Street, Lexington, KY.
  
  *To participate in the burial option, there is a required $300 donation to the Body Bequeathal Program. This donation will help maintain our program and should be received when an individual has been accepted by the University. This donation is tax deductible.

• The University of Kentucky assumes the responsibility of burial of the donor's ashes in the University of Kentucky burial grounds only. Family members will be notified when the ashes have been interred. While the University of Kentucky does not place headstone to identify each grave, families may choose to purchase or apply for a veteran’s headstone to identify their loved one’s grave under the guidelines of the Lexington Cemetery. The University of Kentucky would not assume the cost and placement of the headstone.

• Send the donor's ashes to a designated person or place within the United States indicated on the bequeathal or donation form
  
  This option is directed by the bequeathal form or if the next of kin states these wishes. If the required donation for burial was not made to the Body Bequeathal Program, the ashes will be returned to the designated person.

• Burial or shipping arrangements may be changed only by the next of kin. It is essential for the next of kin to maintain current addresses with the University of Kentucky.

Veterans of Armed Forces and their spouses are entitled to a grave, opening and closing and a headstone in a National Cemetery for their service to our Great Nation. Veterans may desire for the University of Kentucky to send their ashes to one of the many National Veterans Cemeteries in the United States. For information to establish eligibility for burial, please contact the nearest VA regional office at 1-800-827-1000.

Donors Instructions

1. Two copies of the bequeathal form and one copy of the vital statistic form are included in downloadable forms. The bequeathal forms should be signed in the presence of two witnesses. Properly completed bequeathal forms have legal status, a formal last will and testament is not required. Relatives of the donor or anyone eighteen years of age may be witnesses to this document.
    

2. One original signed bequeathal form and the vital statistic form should be forwarded to:
   
   Gary W. Ginn, Coordinator
   University of Kentucky Body Bequeathal Program
   MN 223 Medical Center
   Lexington, KY 40536-0298
   
   Telephone: (859) 323-5160
   Fax: (859) 257-6700
   Digital Pager: (859) 330-6263 Enter your area code and telephone number.
   Your call will be returned as soon as possible.
   Email: gwginn@uky.edu
    

3. The other copy of the bequeathal form should be retained by the donor and placed in his or her personal file.
    

4. Additional copies of the bequeathal forms should be given to donor's surviving relatives, close friends, or whoever will be in charge of final arrangements. This will assure those concerned will know of the donor's wishes and will be in a better position to fulfill his or her wishes. Some donors have made their family physician and local funeral director aware by also providing them with a copy of their bequeathal form.