Body
Unit Policy
Title
School of Medicine: Policy on Exclusion of Unclaimed Bodies for Anatomical Education, Research, or any Other Purpose
Introduction
Purpose
This Policy establishes the School of Medicine (SOM) Anatomical Gifts Program’s (“AGP” or the “Program”) requirements regarding the exclusion of Unclaimed Bodies for medical education, research, or any other purpose.
Scope
This Policy applies to all AGP staff and SOM staff who act on behalf of the AGP in accepting deceased persons’ bodies for medical education, research, or any other purpose.
Policy
Policy Statement
The AGP will not accept custody of any Unclaimed Body for medical education, research, or any other purpose.
The AGP may, from time to time, receive oral or written notice from a person or entity (including licensed funeral directors, funeral service licensees, or authorized personnel from the State of North Carolina or its local government units, including hospitals, nursing homes, other institutions, or the Commission of Anatomy) that a deceased person’s body is “Unclaimed”. After receiving such notice regarding an Unclaimed Body, the Director of the AGP, or their designee, must promptly (i) notify the person or entity in possession of the Unclaimed Body that the body is ineligible for the Program and (ii) decline to accept the Unclaimed Body from the person or entity. The AGP may notify the person or entity in possession of the Unclaimed Body orally or in writing.
Definitions
Unclaimed Body: any deceased person’s body or remains deemed unclaimed under North Carolina law (see N.C.G.S. § 130A-415). A deceased person’s body shall be deemed ‘unclaimed’ if either of the following conditions apply:
- No individual notifies the person in possession of the deceased person’s within ten (10) days of the date of death that the individual wishes to dispose of the deceased person’s body.
- All individuals who have expressed interest in arranging for disposition of the deceased’s body have (i) ceased communicating with the person in possession of the deceased’s body for five (5) days, (ii) at least ten (10) days have passed from the date of death, and (iii) the person in possession of the deceased person’s body has used reasonable efforts to contact all individuals interested in arranging for final disposition.
The term “Unclaimed Body” does not mean a dead body for which the deceased has made a written gift to the AGP.
Related Requirements
External Regulations
Contact Information
Primary Contact
Name: Amanda Mittelstadt
Telephone: 919-966-1134
Email: amanda_mittelstadt@med.unc.edu
Other Contacts
Name: Mary Hauser
Email: mary_hauser@med.unc.edu