If you’re considering making a whole body donation in Tampa, you should know just how valuable your donation is.
“Body donations are incredibly important to training and education,” Dr. Yashuharu Okuda, Executive Director, Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation at the University of South Florida Health. “Even though we have the latest, greatest technology available, they still don’t provide the level of realism needed.”
“The tissue is used for the kind of low-frequency, high mortality kind of injuries,” said Dr. Luis Llerena, Trauma Surgeon at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. “We need to know how to operate quickly…when time is of the essence and their lives are in our hands. You can’t do that with video or any other model.”
Researchers, scientists, and medical students benefit from learning about diseases and anatomy while training the next generation of doctors and surgeons. “It’s a very humbling experience to work with the donors,” said medical student Dalton Smith. “You gain this great respect for everybody that’s made the decision to further scientific medical knowledge.”
How to Donate Your Body to Science
There are a few key steps required when you’re considering how to donate your body to science, starting with understanding the body donation process. Unlike organ donation, where specific organs are used for transplants, whole-body donation provides invaluable resources for anatomy training, surgical practice, and disease research.
Choosing a Donation Program
Participating in whole body donation in Tampa requires you to choose a body donation program. Choose a non-profit agency that is accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks. In the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, United Tissue Network (UTN) fits the bill, ensuring your contribution is handled with dignity and used to its fullest potential in advancing science and medicine.
Documenting Your Decision
You’ll need to fill out forms online to start the process whether you are pledging yourself or helping a loved one approaching end of life. The forms will request donor information along with a brief medical history. UTN’s donor coordinators will contact you to finalize.
You should discuss your decision with family members and loved ones so they understand your choice and fulfill your wishes. You will also want to incorporate your decision into any legal documents, such as a will or advance directive.
Final Preparations
For whole body donation in Tampa, you must meet certain eligibility criteria, which can vary by program. Donors must be at least 18 years of age. Unlike some for-profit programs, UTN has no upper age limit and accepts most donors with diseases like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, or dementia. Donors are not accepted when there are infectious diseases like HIV/AIDs or hepatitis, to protect researchers. There may be additional testing required at the time of passing.
You should consider your post-donation arrangements, such as a memorial service. UTN pays for cremation, but it will not occur until research has been completed. This can take weeks or months. Many families choose to have a memorial service at the time of death and then a smaller ceremony when the remains are returned. Either way, United Tissue Network relieves families of the financial burden of cremation.
Managing Emotions
When a loved one passes away, it can be emotionally draining. By preparing arrangements ahead of time, you can avoid having to make decisions during your grief.
Whole body donation in Tampa can also surface some emotional, cultural, religious, and philosophical questions. You may worry about how your loved ones will feel, or have concerns about what happens to bodies.
It’s important to acknowledge these concerns and seek reassurance. Discuss the altruistic impact of your choice with your family, emphasizing how it can inspire others and make a difference in the world. Reputable programs like UTN prioritize transparency and provide information to help alleviate fears.
How to Donate Your Body to Science in Tampa-St. Pete
United Tissue Network is the only nonprofit organization in Florida that coordinates whole body donations. UTN handles all of the logistics, placement with reputable research and medical facilities, and cremation after research is complete. Remains are returned to your loved ones upon request or disposed of in an ethical and dignified manner.
UTN has helped nearly 12,000 families fulfill their wishes and create a lasting legacy for their loved ones through whole body donation.
Learn more about whole body donation in Tampa, FL. Contact United Tissue Network at 877-738-6111 or register online.
