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How do I get registered as an LQA donor?
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You may either call 866-799-2300 or print our LifeQuest Anatomical registration materials.
In order to avoid any confusion at the time our services are needed it is always best to follow through on
completing forms once the decision to donate has been made. Your information and your privacy is of utmost
importance to us and as such your records are assured a level of confidentiality you can be at ease with.
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Should I discuss body donation with my family, and if so, how?
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Likely one of the most important first steps in the donation
process is an open discussion
with your family. We understand this is a difficult time and that this is a difficult
discussion to have. Let us assure you that these decisions will need to be made usually
prior to death or very soon after death. In most cases the caregiver; hospital, hospice,
or nursing home will request this information in order to assist the family with the
disposition. The disposition of the deceased will need to be arranged and having these
decisions made by the family and the next of kin is critical to making the donation
possible. If we can be of any service to you at this time or any other point in the
process please do not hesitate to call us at 866-799-2300. Our phones are answered by caring,
courteous and dedicated professionals ready to support you and your family 24 hours a day
7 days a week.
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I carry an ID with organ donor status. How does this work with organ donation?
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It is quite common for many of us to carry in our wallets an ID or drivers license with the organ donor designation.
There are distinct differences between organ donation and whole body donation.
Again, the most important step in the process is a discussion with your family and next of kin. The better informed
your family is, the better prepared we can be to carry out your wishes to donate your body to science. Agencies like
LQA, responsible for procurement of tissue, cannot do so without the permission of the family. This means
authorizations on LQA consent forms completed by the family and or the next of kin of the donor. The order of next
of kin is as follows: 1. spouse, 2. adult children, 3. parent(s), 4. adult siblings (brother and or sister),
5. legal representative or guardian. LQA provides a Donor ID card with registration materials. While carrying a
donor ID card identifies you as a donor, signed informed consent forms authorized by the prospective donor and the
legal next of kin are still necessary to make the donation possible. There are circumstances under which organ
donation may or may not prohibit body donation. In order to collect the information we need to advise you of
eligibility, we ask that you contact us.
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Who does body donation benefit?
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Body donation benefits everyone. Humanity benefits. Doctors and surgeons benefit. Our loved ones, friends and neighbors all benefit. Physician training be it for education or research take the invaluable experience gained from studies LifeQuest Anatomical supports and return to their communities to improves surgical outcomes, lower mortality rates and ultimately improve the quality of life for us all.
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Do I qualify?
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Almost everyone can donate regardless of age or location. Most illnesses and past surgeries are accepted. A detailed medical history detailing surgeries, illnesses and treatments will enable our dedicated staff to determine eligibility. This can be accomplished either over the phone or by email on our contact us page.
The screening process LQA utilizes to assure suitability of the donation and placement with appropriate areas of medical study are as follows:
- Donor must weigh more than 100 pounds and no more than 250 pounds. Height and weight parameters should be discussed with the family as these parameters cannot account for every scenario.
- Please contact us at 866-799-2300
- Donor must not have HIV 1 or 2 AIDS or Hepatitis B or C.
- Donor cannot have fluid retention (edema) in the abdomen. Edema in the extremities (hands and feet or legs and arms) only should be discussed with our staff. Please contact us.
- If the donor died as a result of extensive trauma to the body such as: suicide, homicide, drowning, burn victim or auto or industrial accident we would not be able to place the donor. A discussion with our staff may be necessary to assure we can or cannot accept the donation.
- Cannot accept or place individuals with moderate to severe jaundice or kidney failure.
- Cannot accept or place individuals with MRSA or any viral/bacterial infection for which the donor was placed in isolation.
- In case of numerous major surgeries, please contact us and a representative will assist you and advise if donation is possible.
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Where are the medical programs LQA supports held?
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The medical studies all LQA donors are matched up with are performed in secure medical and or academic facilities such as medical schools, teaching hospitals and research institutions. The facilities LQA provides also always ensure the safety of the participants and the respectful and dignified treatment of the donor.
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Would organ transplant donation interfere with body donation?
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Organ donation is carried out in hospitals and medical centers. Each state has protocols for organ donation and as such organ donation is deemed a priority over body donation to science. Again, we recommend the family discuss organ donation as permission for organ donation is needed in order for the transplant donation to occur. Donation for transplant would prohibit body donation. Because there are variations on what organs are donated and this could impact eligibility, we ask that you contact us to discuss the specifics to help determine eligibility.
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Can you accept an individual that has undergone an autopsy?
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There are some instances in which we can accept an autopsy case and some in which we cannot. In order to better serve you and your family we ask that you contact us to discuss this.
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What about having a funeral?
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A traditional funeral is not possible with body donation. However, many options exist and a dedicated LQA representative can assist you by providing information. Among the options are memorial services without the cremated remains as the donor is actively supporting medical science, green cremation burials and cremation memorials once the cremated remains are returned to the family. Please contact us with questions or for more information.
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When must I decide to donate?
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The decision to donate can be made at any time by the individual wishing to donate, their family and next of kin. The decision to donate can be made as part of your plans for the future. The decision most often is made at the time of need in the case of a terminally ill or imminent individual or after an individual has passed away and the family begins to research their options if not previously arranged. In either case the most important step is to discuss body donation with your family and next of kin. LQA assures every step of the process is in accordance with the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act.
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Who is able to consent?
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LifeQuest Anatomical requires signed informed consent forms from the donor and or the legal next of kin in accordance with state and federal laws. Donations are carried out in accordance with the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act and uphold the individual's right to donate by enforcing the right to donate after death. If the individual desiring donation passes away prior to self consenting to the donation, only the legal next of kin has the legal right to authorize the donation. The order of next of kin is as follows: 1. spouse, 2. adult children, 3. parent(s), 4. adult siblings (brother and or sister), 5. legal representative or guardian.
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What about the cost to my family?
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All costs for donation including transportation and the cremation are covered by Life Quest Anatomical. LifeQuest Anatomical will provide three (3) copies of certified death certificates to the family at no charge. If the family requires more than the three (3) no cost copies LQA provides, the family will be responsible for the cost of additional copies, reordering fees, expediting fees and postage. *A nominal fee is charged to process paperwork.
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How does LifeQuest Anatomical handle confidentiality?
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LifeQuest Anatomical respects and warrants the security of your personal information. Your confidentiality is of the utmost importance to us and LQA maintains the program in strict accordance with Title 45 Public Welfare, Part 46 Protection of Human Subjects of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. Internally, and upon arrival into the donor program, each donor is assigned a donor identification number. This ensures that all communications with educators and researchers and all documentation corresponding to each donor is protected and confidentiality is assured. Utilizing a highly secured means, LQA is able to track each donor throughout their journey in the support of medical science, while at the same time protecting their identity and the identity of the educators and researchers whose work is enabled through the donor's gift. To view our Privacy Policy click here.
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Do you sell body parts and how do you charge researchers or educators for your services?
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LQA matches tissue only with qualified end users and prohibits tissue brokering or third party transfer of tissue. LQA steadfastly believes that a body donation is a gift and honors each gift with utmost respect and humility. LifeQuest Anatomical charges reasonable fees associated with the expense of providing services for the donor and their family to the medical programs LQA supports. LQA adheres to the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984, which prohibits the buying and or selling of human organs and tissue. As a highly ethical institution with strong, long-standing ties to the medical community, the fees LQA charges are for: transportation, removal from place of death, processing, preservation, disposal (cremation), and care of each donor. Educators and researchers wishing to work with LQA must meet stringent standards and must also comply with all local, state and federal laws governing the use of human tissue.
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Can I specify what areas of medicine I wish to support if a specific disease causes death?
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While reasonable efforts are made, LifeQuest Anatomical cannot guarantee the placement of a donor with a specific study for a specific disease. Reasonable efforts are made to match donors with appropriate areas of medical study. However, the timing of a donor's death, the duration and timing of a specific study and the donor's medical history are all factors that ultimately determine what areas of medical science the donor will support. No guarantees are made as to the outcome or results achieved by any educational or research function supported by any LQA donor.
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What about Veteran's and or Social Security benefits?
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A dedicated LQA representative will work with your family through a local representative to advise you on any matters pertaining to social security and or veterans benefits.
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Can you explain your corporate status?
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LifeQuest Anatomical is an incorporated taxable organization paying federal and state
taxes. LQA services the medical community by offering free services for the donor and the donor family who by way of legal consent knowingly support medical science.
The medical community to which donations are matched are made up of both private (for profit) and public (non-profit)institutions. Whether a hospital, a medical center or a research institution, the choice of for or not for profit is not indicative of the level of integrity or professionalism that defines that organization. In both cases, each form of these organizations, like LQA, chose the status aligned with their vision.
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Are there any standards that LifeQuest Anatomical complies with?
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LifeQuest Anatomical complies with all local, state and federal laws for the use and disposition of human tissue. Our parent company IMET Innovations in Medical Education and Training is accredited by the ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education) to train physicians on the newest technologies based in minimally invasive surgical techniques. As such, we are the only organization of it's kind with many of the world's best known surgeons and physician faculty providing the very best training in advanced surgical techniques.
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Can I donate if I have cancer or any other kind of disease like Lupus?
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Non-infectious diseases usually pose no threat to donation. Diseases like Cancer and Lupus do not prohibit donation. Each case should be addressed with a personal representative on our staff. An LQA representative will review your medical history and advise you if donation is possible. Please contact us.
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