Bodies willed to the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine are used mainly in the education of physicians, and to a minor extent in medical research. However, the value of a body is greatly diminished if all parts are not intact. Therefore, bodies from which parts have been removed for transplant purposes or during the course of an autopsy will not be accepted. Our Program does not compete with other programs that make organs and tissues available for transplantation or with those that promote postmortem studies necessary for the maintenance of quality in medical care. All those efforts offer benefits to society, but since the needs of each program exclude mutual use of the body, the donor or survivors must make a clear choice in how the body will be used. Exceptions to this general rule are that the eyes may be donated to any eye bank (through a separate willing process) and bodies on which amputation has been performed will usually be accepted.

The Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics cannot guarantee acceptance of a willed or donated body. A body will not be acceptable if any of the following conditions are present:

1. Organs or parts (other than eyes) have been removed at or following the time of death, such as for transplantation or in an autopsy;
2. Decomposition of the body prior to embalming;
3. Severe trauma, such as death from drowning, burning, homicide, or motor vehicle accident;
4. Open wounds or ulceration of the body, bed sores;
5. Contagious diseases, especially viral, such as virulent herpes, hepatitis, HIV, or some of the dementias;
6. Excessive obesity, emaciation, or body contractures (fetal position);
7. Jaundice

In summary, the Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics reserves the right to refuse any body that cannot be used.

Information

Arrangements for eye or skin removal should be made by the family and the procedure performed before the body is transported to the college. Individuals seeking information on eye donation should contact:

Lions Eye Bank of Texas
Texas Medical Center
6565 Fannin, NC-205
Houston, Texas 77030
Phone: (713) 798-5500

Information on other types of organ and tissue donation may be obtained through:

Life Gift Organ Donation Center
5615 Kirby Drive, Suite 900
Houston, Texas 77005
Phone: (713) 523-GIFT (4438)
Fax: (713) 737-8110