Choosing what you would like to happen to your body after you pass away is an important consideration for the future. One option for charitable-minded individuals is to donate your body to science in Florida.
At United Tissue Network (UTN), we are an accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people looking to make a difference in the world through whole-body donation in Florida. We also offer Florida residents cost-free end-of-life options to consider for themselves or their loved ones.
Many Florida residents are already registered organ donors. But, did you know that you can be an organ donor and still donate your body to science?
If you want to make a difference even after you have left this world, keep reading to learn about your options for whole-body donation in Florida.
Why Donate Your Body to Science in Florida?
Did you know there is a human tissue shortage? Not just in Florida but worldwide. Tissue donation is important in advancing medical technology, including treating severe diseases.
We at UTN aim to help overcome this shortage by uniting charitable donors with professionals dedicated to advancing medical technology, training, and education.
Donating your body to science through United Tissue Network is a valuable gift to help the future of medical advancements. Whole body donation in Florida through UTN provides human tissue for various programs, such as
- Physician education
- Surgical training
- Device research/development
- Drug research/development
There is no substitute for human tissue when it comes to studying the human body, which is why whole-body donation is so crucial for the medical community. When you or your loved one decide to donate your body to science in Florida, you become instrumental in discovering new treatments and testing medical devices.
There are many benefits to donating your body to science. Here are just some of the ways your UTN whole body donation in Florida can help advance medicine:
- Medical students can study the complex anatomy of the human body
- Surgeons can practice new surgery techniques, including robotic-assisted surgeries
- Organ transplant teams can practice organ recovery and transplantation
- Doctors can study the causes/progression of serious illnesses and diseases, such as cancer
- Surgeons can perfect implanting devices into delicate areas, such as the spine, heart, or brain
- EMTs can practice life-saving techniques and technologies to treat members of their communities
Just think, by donating your body to science, you might help a team discover a cure for cancer, potentially helping to save future generations of relatives.
Do you think whole-body donation might be right for you? Here’s how UTN can help.
How to Donate Your Body to Science in Florida
If you are interested in donating your body, you may be wondering how it works. At UTN, we want to make the process easy for you and your loved ones.
We call our registration the “S.E.T.” process:
- Self Registration – individuals register themselves in advance to become donors upon their death. This is also known as the Pledge process.
- End of life – registration is performed when a person is at the end of life. This is also known as the pre-approval process.
- Time of passing – family members register the bodies of their relatives who have just died
The first step of the Self Registration process is to pledge yourself on our website and fill out the necessary paperwork. Pledging only takes a couple of minutes, and there is no cost or obligation after you sign up.
Once your pledge is accepted, we will provide you with your pledge information that you can share with your family so they are fully aware of your wishes upon your death. You will also receive a Donor Pledge Card as registration identification in the mail within ten business days.
Please note that in certain instances, we may reject a body donation due to the presence of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS or hepatitis.
The End-of-Life step is when you or your loved one have reached the end of life and can begin the preapproval process in one of our medical programs. The Time of Passing step is for when a family member dies, and you would like to register their body donation after they have passed.
Whether you are registering for yourself or a loved one, a signed consent form is required to move forward with a whole-body donation in Florida.
At United Tissue Network, we will ensure that you and your family receive all information you need to move forward with your donation, including the policies and procedures that will take place once you are deceased.
Making your family aware of your wishes and involving them at every step of the way is important and will lead to a smoother process as you transition out of this life.
Ensuring the safety of the medical professionals we work with is paramount. Therefore, we test all whole-body donors utilizing a CLIA-certified laboratory before placing tissue with any medical organization.
We also provide a complete medical-social history of each donor that has passed. However, please know that even though we provide a complete medical history, your personal information always remains confidential to protect you and your family.
While many individuals donate their bodies to science in Florida for philanthropic reasons, whole-body donation also appeals to individuals looking to relieve their families from the financial and emotional burdens of a traditional burial.
Here is how UTN can help.
How Whole-Body Donation Eliminates Cremation Costs in Florida
End-of-life care and funeral costs can be incredibly expensive, a figure that only keeps rising. If you are looking for funeral alternatives in Florida, our services may be the solution you need.
The average funeral costs around $7,000, but those costs can quickly increase. Cremation costs in Florida are a little more affordable but can still average around $2,000. If you choose cremation with a memorial service, you may look at a figure closer to $5,000. These costs are in addition to any end-of-life care you may have to pay out of pocket, such as hospitalizations, medications, and hospice.
If the financial burden of afterlife care weighs heavily on you, consider registering for whole-body donation in Florida. We offer a free cremation funeral alternative in Florida to all donors.
When you choose to donate your body through UTN, we cover all the basics of passing, including the following expenses:
- Removal from place of passing
- Coordination of transport to a UTN site
- Filing death certificate (families receive two certified copies)
- Direct cremation of the body
When you register for whole-body donation in Florida, upon your death, your body may be used for physician education, surgical training, device research, or drug research. Once your body’s donation needs have been met, your body will be cremated and can be returned to your family.
The timeframe between the body’s donation and receipt of the ashes is typically 4 to 6 weeks. Upon receipt of your ashes, your loved ones have complete control over how to proceed with your remains.
Register with United Tissue Network for Whole-Body Donation in Florida
Donating your body to science through UTN is free, and we do not profit from your valuable donation.
Our donor program allows each donor to be the underlying support for everyday lives, and there is no upper age limit to donate your body. We accept most BMIs and individuals with cancer, dementia, and many more conditions.
Unlike some whole-body donation services, we don’t prevent you from being an organ donor. Actually, it’s quite the opposite. As an American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) accredited organization, we encourage all of our whole-body donors to be organ donors. When you register for organ donation and whole-body donation in Florida, organ donation takes priority.
Are you ready to take the next step? You can pledge your whole-body donation on our website or call us at 877-738-6111. Our Donor Service Coordinators are available 24/7 to answer all your questions about whole-body donation in Florida.