At Michigan State University people can choose whether to donate their body for three years or without any restriction as to the length of time.
A body donated for an indefinite period can be used for educational purposes as long as it remains an effective teaching tool.
[5] In Brazil, the Brazilian Legal Code allows teaching to be done on cadavers that are unclaimed from the Institutes of Forensic Medicine.
Many Brazilians are unaware that a body can be voluntarily donated to a university after death, which also contributes to the shortage of cadavers for teaching.
[citation needed] Blood, bone marrow, eye, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, and tissue are acceptable organs for donation.
[10] These programs then charge their customers (mainly medical instrument companies) for services associated with preparation of the cadaver tissue (e.g. transportation, refrigeration, and recovery) rather than charging money for the donated tissue itself, though it is not illegal to do so for non-transplant and or research organizations per the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act as it is for transplant and/or therapy.
[13] At the University of Washington, a body may be refused if there are signs of decomposition, severe trauma, infectious diseases, significant bedsores, obesity, jaundice, recent surgeries, or autopsied remains.
When the study is complete, the cremated remains are either buried at the university community plot or are sent to the person on the Donor Registration Form, both at no cost.
The family is also responsible in making alternate arrangements for final disposition if the donation cannot be completed for reasons previously stated.
According to research done, the use of real bodies as opposed to computer stimulation has produced a better understanding of anatomy in students.
This research showed higher scores on anatomy exams for students using cadavers for learning opposed to computer stimulation.
Faculty, staff, and students of health professions are authorized to use the anatomy lab and outsiders are restricted access.
Outside of the medical field, bodies can be used for research to increase safety in military, law enforcement, sports and transportation crashes.
[17] There is no agreement made with the donor about images being taken or used for any purposes after death so current practice is that the choice is up to the organization in possession of the cadaver.
[18] This study found that the actions of doctors while in anatomy labs and other areas where they have been exposed to a cadaver have led them to avoid donating their own bodies.