Does donation affect funeral arrangements?
The body is treated with great respect and dignity throughout the process, and the donor’s appearance following donation still allows for an open-casket funeral. Once the organ and/or tissue recovery process is completed, the body is released to the donors family. From the time the donation process begins, the entire process is usually completed within 24 to 36 hours, and the family may then proceed with funeral arrangements.
Your decision to donate should not interfere with funeral arrangements. However, it is important that you let your funeral home of choice know of your desire to donate. Donation should not delay funeral arrangements or add to the cost. With funeral homes supporting donation, the body is carefully reconstructed and a normal, open casket funeral service may be held. Your desire to be an organ donor may also be indicated in your living will or in your advance directives, or by simply sharing your wishes with your family.
The body is treated with great respect and dignity throughout the process, and the donor’s appearance following donation still allows for an open-casket funeral. Once the organ, eye and/or tissue recovery process is completed, the body is released to the donor’s family (or, if legally required first, to the local medical examiner’s office). From the time the donation process begins, the entire process is usually completed within 24 to 36 hours, and the family may then proceed with funeral arrangements.
The body is treated with great respect and dignity throughout the process, and the donor’s appearance following donation still allows for an open-casket funeral. Once the organ and/or tissue recovery process is completed, the body is released to the donors family (or, if legally required first, to the local medical examiners office). From the time the donation process begins, the entire process is usually completed within 24 to 36 hours, and the family may then proceed with funeral arrangements.
