Main Content

What to Do When Death Occurs

When death occurs, the Body Donation Program must be notified immediately of the death by calling (601) 984-1649. This number is active 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

To verify the deceased is a registered donor, be prepared to give their:

• Name the way it is listed on the registry
• Social Security number
• Date of birth

At the time of the initial call, the donor will be screened for acceptability into the program. If accepted, a representative of the Body Donation Program will come to the site of death and remove the body from anywhere within Mississippi at no cost to family or estate of the deceased. The program will not pay the cost of removal by a funeral home unless it is done at our request.

The surviving family should be advised that the donor's body cannot be available for a funeral. Memorial services can be arranged by contacting a local funeral provider at the discretion of the family. The donor cannot be viewed after UMMC has taken possession of them, since the preparation for anatomical use may begin immediately upon the body's arrival at UMMC.

After the program has completed with a donated body, the body is cremated. If desired, cremains will be returned to the family with 18 to 24 months. All transportation (within Mississippi), preparation and disposal costs are paid for by UMMC Body Donation Program.