Cremation Services May Help Further Medical Research

Families that experience the loss of philanthropically minded loved ones may want to consider using whole-body donation and cremation services. These services offer an opportunity to honor the person’s memory, help others and reduce end-of-life associated costs.

For those not familiar with it, whole-body donation is a program that is designed to assist medical professionals and students with their research. There are programs devoted to the donation process located all across the nation. Understandably, the guidelines associated with those programs will vary based on the locations and organizations involved. In Missouri, the programs must be operated within the parameters of the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act of 1969.

In most instances, the programs will accept donations providing that the decedent is 18 years of age or older and meets certain health-related criteria. This criteria typically focuses on excluding gifts that may cause those handling the body to potentially contract an infectious disease (i.e. tuberculosis or hepatitis). In addition, the program’s guidelines may also include exclusions related to prior organ donation, body mass and autopsy-related issues.

Once the gift is accepted and the recipients’ research is complete, the decedent’s body will typically be sent to the crematory of the family or organization’s choosing. Once there, the cremation process will begin. Afterward, the decedents’ ashes will be handled in the manner that their families see fit. It is also important to note that some programs charge fees and allow the families to receive their loved one’s ashes, whereas others do not. We at Heartland Cremation & Burial Society offer our whole-body donation cremation services at no cost to the family. We also make it a point to return the decedent’s remains to their loved ones.

For more information on whole body donation and cremation services in Missouri, please contact us. Our caring and knowledgeable staff will be able to answer all of your questions and help you make the necessary arrangements.

With four generations of experience in the funeral and cremation field, Heartland Cremation is dedicated to serving your loved one during your time of need with the compassion and respect they deserve. Contact Heartland Cremation to learn more about cremation and funeral services in the Kansas City area.