Frequently Asked Questions | Body Donation Program | UC Davis Health

The program was founded with the purpose of supplying human remains for educational and research purposes. The act of donating one's body is regarded as a highly valued and appreciated contribution, utilized to educate and train both students and professionals. Through the generosity of our donors, we acquire valuable resources for research and education, ultimately contributing to advancements in health and the quality of life for future generations.

Our program is entirely free. Upon acceptance, we arrange for the transportation of the donor into our care, which also includes cremation or disposition arrangements. Please note that due to the nature of the program, cremated remains are not returned.

Once your application has been received, the Body Donation Program will send you a confirmation letter acknowledging your registration, along with a donor wallet card. The card will include your unique donor number and a dedicated phone number to call at the time of death.

It is important to share your wishes and the contact instructions with your family, designated responsible party, physician, and/or care facility.

Please allow approximately 2–3 weeks for processing. If there is an urgent need to expedite an application, please contact our office at 916-734-9560 to speak with a staff member. Expedited applications may be processed the same day if received during business hours (Monday through Friday, excluding holidays).

Applications can be mailed, faxed, or emailed to our program

Address: UC Davis Body Donation Program: 4500 2nd Ave, Suite 5502, Sacramento, CA 95817

Fax: 916-734-9563

Email: BodyDonation@health.ucdavis.edu 

Individuals aged 18 and above can enroll in our program prior to death. We have donors well into their 100s registering for our program, and advanced age is not a concern nor a reason for us to decline. In the event that a donor passes away without prior registration, the appointed power of attorney for healthcare or the surviving spouse/registered domestic partner of the deceased can complete the required forms on their behalf.

The University of California reserves the right to refuse a donation based on medical or pathological reasons or in the rare event that anatomical and research needs have been met. While this is an uncommon occurrence, it is important that the donor be aware of this possibility and have alternate arrangements in mind. Any condition that extensively destroys or distorts the normal anatomy of the body can make it difficult to conduct meaningful study. If any of the following situations, conditions or diseases are encountered please call the Body Donation Program for clarification.

These, if known, will result in a refusal:

• Hepatitis B or C (even after completing treatment)
• HIV/AIDS
• Tuberculosis
• Kuru
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
• MRSA/VRSA

The following reasons may result in refusal to accept. A decision can only be made at the time of death:

• Autopsy
• Trauma
• Mortuary preparations
• Organ donation (skin, bone and vein/artery donation will decline a donor for our program)
• Recent extensive surgery
• Obesity
• Suicide or other suspicious deaths
• Deaths reported after 48 hours
• Significant decomposition

Documented death with dignity or physician assisted suicide will not result in refusal at the time of death.

If our program is unable to accept for almost any non-medically related reason, we will make every attempt to transfer the donation to another donor program within the University of California system.

These reasons may include paperwork not being sufficient for our program; the program is at capacity, etc. If a donation is rejected for a particular disease (for example Hepatitis B) we would not be able to refer the donation elsewhere.

In such cases, the family or responsible party must make alternative arrangements, either by collaborating with another body donation program or by contacting a local mortuary. The UC Davis Body Donation Program does not facilitate the disposition of declined donors.

You can revoke your donation from the program at any time prior to death. Simply send a letter expressing your desire to be removed from the registry, including your signature and date.

Mail to:

UC Davis Body Donation Program
4500 2nd Ave, Suite 5502
Sacramento, CA 95817

Or email to: BodyDonation@health.ucdavis.edu

Upon receiving your request, we will send a withdrawal confirmation letter by mail, acknowledging your decision.

Withdraw/Revoke Letter (PDF)

At the time of death, please call the 24-hour death notification number listed on the donor card: 530-752-2100. Our answering service is available 24/7, including weekends and holidays. The service will ask a few questions to verify the donor’s information and determine whether the donation can be accepted at the time of death.

If the family is ready, we will dispatch our transport service to bring the donor into our care. Our program covers the cost of transporting the donor to our facility.

Please see the link below for instructions on reporting the death of a registered donor:

Who Do I Call? (Chart) 

No, due to the undetermined length of time and how the body may be used for study, remains cannot be returned to the donor’s family. No exceptions can be made to this policy. 

We currently cremate and scatter our donors at sea once the study has been completed. Please be aware we do not notify family when this takes place. 

No, the family or responsible party is not informed about the specific type of study the donor will participate in. However, the program considers the donor's medical history and cause of death to determine the most suitable study at the time.

After studies are completed, the remains are cremated and scattered or interred in a manner consistent with state law. The Body Donation Program incurs all preparation, cremation and disposition expenses. The family or responsible party is not notified when studies conclude, nor when the disposition takes place. No exceptions can be made to this policy. 

The Body Donation Program will file the death certificate electronically with the county where the death occurred. Processing the death certificate may take 2-3 weeks, and the cost of certified copies may vary by county. It's important to note that the Body Donation Program does not provide copies of the death certificate. The family or responsible party will need to place an order with the county once the death certificate becomes available. It is important to note that the county will not have record of the death until the death certificate is registered. For a comprehensive list of counties, please visit: County Registrars and Recorders Offices

You do not need to contact Social Security to report the death, as the Body Donation Program will complete this notification. However, if you believe you may qualify for survivor benefits, it is recommended that you contact Social Security directly to begin the application process.

If a Social Security payment is issued after the date of death, please contact the bank for instructions on how to return the payment. Social Security will typically reclaim any payments made after death.

A surviving spouse or child may receive a one-time, $255 lump-sum death payment from Social Security if they meet specific requirements. This benefit is available if the deceased worked long enough to qualify. A surviving spouse must have been living with the deceased to claim it, and the application must be submitted within two years of death. for more information, please visit Social Security Survivor Benefits

Feel free to contact the donor program via phone or email to request changes to your donor file or to obtain a new donor wallet card. This information is crucial for filing the death certificate, emphasizing the importance of having the most current and accurate details.

Phone: 916-734-9560

Email: BodyDonation@health.ucdavis.edu

The Body Donation Program accepts donors whose death occurred in California and does not currently accept donors from out of state. The program will decline donors whose death occurred outside of California. In such cases, the family or responsible party must make alternative arrangements, either by collaborating with another body donation program in the respective state or by contacting a local mortuary.

If a donor relocates out of state before death, the program can provide information on other available programs in that state for the individual to register with. Please visit the link below for a directory of programs available in your state:

Directory of University-Based Programs

Our program does not perform autopsies. If a family wishes to request one, they can contact a private entity or the county coroner where the death occurred to express their concerns and explore the possibility of arranging an autopsy. Please be aware that if an autopsy is conducted, we will be unable to accept the donor into our program.

Our program does not furnish a report concerning any medical findings related to the donor.

Organ donation is intended to provide organs for living recipients, while body donation serves the purpose of education and research.

Are you a registered organ donor?  

You may still maintain your status as an organ donor. For individuals who are already registered as organ donors, organ recovery procedures are completed prior to the donor’s arrival into our care. We make every effort to coordinate with organ donation organizations to allow participation in both programs.

However, we kindly request that donors refrain from donating skin, bones, or arteries/veins, as these donations may alter the anatomical integrity needed for our educational and research purposes. In some cases, this could result in our program being unable to accept the donation.

If you have any specific questions, please feel free to contact our office at 916-734-9560 for further clarification.

For more information on organ donation, please visit: Donate Life California

No payment may be made in connection with a body donation. This policy is in accordance with State laws, and all institutions accepting human remains must comply with it. However, by donating your body, you can avoid all funeral or burial expenses.