Anatomical Gift Program – Organ & Tissue Donations

You may, if you wish, donate your eyes, kidneys, or other vital organs to organizations such as the Eye Bank, the Kidney Foundation, or other related organizations, but that must be accomplished as a separate act. The Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology of the Brody School of Medicine is not responsible for coordinating such donations.

In considering organ donations, you should bear in mind that removal must occur very shortly after death in order for such donations to be successful. On the other hand, donation of your entire body will be successful and make a useful contribution under almost all conditions of death. The Regional Representative of the North Carolina Commission of Anatomy will determine if bodies from which organs have been removed are useful for anatomical studies. If the body is unusable, the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology of the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University may refuse to accept the donation, and, in such case, the next of kin or the estate would be responsible for the final disposition of the body and the expenses incurred. Therefore, we advise that alternative arrangements should be considered in the event that the donation is declined.