Anatomical Gift Program – Expenses for Donations

Your family or estate are not charged for expenses, such as final disposition, in the donations of bodies. The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University will assume certain expenses incurred prior to and after the arrival of the body at the medical center. Examples of such expenses would be as follows:

• First, should the body be embalmed by a mortician, the University will pay all reasonable requests for this service in accordance with the Commission of Anatomy cost guidelines.
• Second, the cost of transportation to the University from within the eastern part of the state will be paid by the Brody School of Medicine. The University will not bear expenses for special memorial services desired by the individual or their family.
• Finally, the Brody School of Medicine will pay for the costs of cremation and interment. If the family chooses, a family member or designee may arrange a time to come to the Brody School of Medicine and retrieve the cremated remains at their expense. Donors or their families are encouraged to offset expenses incurred by the Brody School of Medicine by donating an amount equivalent to all or part of the costs of the ECU Medical Foundation.

You, your family, or your estate are not paid for the use of your body. The laws of North Carolina specifically prohibit the giving of anything of value in return for donations of organs or bodies. This means that no cash payment may be made to a donor or to survivors.