Donation Criteria

In order for the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program to accept a donation, a fully executed consent form (available in the "Resources" sidebar) must be received by the Program. 

The Anatomy Bequest Program accepts the donations of individuals who are 18 years old or older. There is no upper age limit for whole body donation. 

Individuals have to be considered legally competent at the time they complete the consent form. 

Under the terms of the Darlene Luther Minnesota Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, the Anatomy Bequest Program has the right to accept or decline a donation dependent upon the needs of the Anatomy Bequest Program and the medical and/or social history of the decedent.

Please be aware that completion of the consent form does not guarantee donation acceptance at the time of death. The Program may not accept the donation of the remains at the time of  death for the reasons listed below. We recommend that an alternate final disposition plan be in place, should the Program be unable to accept the donation.

At the time of death, the Program must be contacted to determine eligibility. A donation may be declined for reasons including, but not limited to:

• The individual has or has had a disease such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, tuberculosis, latent tuberculosis or a prion disease
• The individual has an acute bacterial, viral, or fungal infection or sepsis
• The individual weighs more than 250 pounds at the time of death
• The individual has had an autopsy performed
• There are open wounds, gangrene or necrosis
• The condition or pathology of the remains precludes adequate and/or safe preparation, storage, or study
• The individual dies outside of the state of Minnesota
• The remains are not transported to the Program within 24 hours of death, unless specific permission is granted by the Program
• There is significant family discord at the time of death or immediately thereafter
• The current needs of the program

If the Anatomy Bequest Program declines the donation at the time of death, it becomes the responsibility of the next of kin/authorizing person to make final arrangements.