How to Donate Your Body to Science in Southern California

Southern California residents have the option of donating their bodies to science after their death by becoming body donors at any Southern California college's medical school. Your donated body is used for educational purposes by future doctors and medical researchers. Students practice medical techniques and study the human body using donated bodies. Anyone is eligible to donate, though upon your death, the school determines whether your body is in adequate condition to use for educational purposes.

Instructions

• 1

  Choose a Southern California school to donate your body to. Each university's website provides detailed information about its body donor program if you want to research programs prior to making this decision.

• 2

  Obtain a donor application form from the school of your choice. You can call the school to request they mail a copy to you, or you can download the form from the school's website and fill it out. Provide all of the required information, which includes your personal information, your full description, the names of your parents and your employment information. Select a responsible party to be contacted after the program has finished with your body. This person will be contacted to pick up your cremated remains.

• 3

  Sign your donor application form in the presence of two witnesses or a notary public. Mail, deliver or fax your application form to the school you chose. Keep a copy for your personal records and one for the personal records of your legal representative, if you so choose.

• 4

  Discuss your choice to donate your body to medical science with your immediate family members. Upon your death, they will be responsible for contacting the medical program to arrange for your body to be picked up. Your family will not be able to use your body for funeral viewings, nor will they be able to bury or cremate your body.