University of Kentucky Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology: Body Bequeathal: Survivors

The University of Kentucky Body Bequeathal Program should be notified of a donors death as soon as possible. During and after hours, holidays and weekends please telephone (859) 323-5160, the number for the Coordinator of the Body Bequeathal Program. After normal working hours, and on holidays and weekends telephone calls will be answered by a recorded message with current information including the telephone number of our after hours coordinator.
Survivors should be aware that even though their loved one was registered as a potential donor to the Program, that certain events before or shortly after death may make their body unsuitable for participation in the Program. A full description of these exceptions are listed on the donor information page.
If the University of Kentucky declines or refuses the bequeathal or donation of an individual, it is the survivor's obligation to make final arrangements. Survivors 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 of the donor if the donor is unable to make funeral pre-arrangements for themselves.
If the University of Kentucky accepts the bequeathal or donation of an individual's body by a family member, the University of Kentucky will arrange for transportation of the body from the place of death to the University at the University's expense from the central and eastern portions of Kentucky. If death occurs west of Louisville, the University will coordinate transportation of the individual from the place of death to the University at the expense of the family or the deceased's estate.

Survivors may request visitation and funeral services with their loved one's body present at their local funeral home. However, the University must be made aware of this request to advise funeral home employees of special handling and embalming procedures for the body. Under no circumstances is the body to be embalmed before the University is contacted. The Body Bequeathal Program will not assume the cost of services requested by survivors at local funeral homes. Following the survivor's visitation/funeral service the University of Kentucky will embalm the donor's body and retain it for educational and scientific studies in the order in which it was received. Studies may last over a period of years. Viewing of the body, once it has been transferred to the University of Kentucky, is not possible.
A Memorial Service is held each year in the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Medical Center. The service memorializes several donors and is not held immediately after each donor's death. Faculty, staff and students attend and participate in this service to publicly express their appreciation for those donors who have been studied. Family members will be invited to attend this service if they choose to be notified.

Survivors 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 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. The University of Kentucky will follow the instructions of the individual's bequeathal form. The regulations regarding burial of the cremains are listed.