Being 90 years old does not rule out donating your body to medical science. Neither does a history of cancer, diabetes or dementia. Research for Life, the whole body donation program that serves Arizona and Southern California, says those are two of the misconceptions it hears most.

The program serves families across Arizona, including the San Tan Valley area. Most people never look into whole body donation until they have a reason to, so what they believe about it often comes from a television show, a story they heard years ago or a guess. Research for Life also acknowledges that bad actors in the industry have given people reason to be cautious. Here is what the organization says it has to correct most often.

Age Alone Does Not Disqualify a Donor

Research for Life accepts donors 18 and older and sets no upper age limit. Being 70, 80, 90 or older does not by itself keep someone from taking part.

Medical education and research draw on donors of many ages and backgrounds. Training programs have to prepare doctors for the patients they will actually treat, and many of those patients are older adults.

Most Medical Conditions Do Not Rule Someone Out

Cancer, diabetes, dementia, past surgeries and joint replacements may still allow a person to qualify. In some cases a medical history is part of what makes a donation useful, because students and researchers need to study the conditions they will spend their careers treating.

Some conditions do prevent acceptance. The organization's point is that a person cannot tell from the outside which ones, so the question is worth asking rather than assuming the answer is no.

Whole Body Donation and Organ Donation Are Two Different Gifts

Organ and tissue donation for transplant helps living patients. Whole body donation is not for transplant. It supports medical education, surgical training, research and the development of new medical technology.

The two are not always an either-or choice. Organ donation for transplant can take priority, and whole body donation may still be possible afterward depending on the circumstances. Research for Life encourages people to register as organ and tissue donors as well.

Donating Does Not Cancel the Funeral

Families can hold a celebration of life, a church service, a memorial or a family gathering. What changes is whether there is a casket in the room, not whether a family can say goodbye.

Research for Life also holds annual memorial services in Arizona and California during Donate Life Month in April to honor donors and the families who made the gift.

There Is No Cost to the Family

For donors accepted into the program, the family pays nothing for the donation process or the cremation. That is the part people most often expect to have a catch.

For families who do not want a traditional funeral and burial, or cannot afford one, that removes a cost that usually lands at the worst possible moment. Research for Life says the money is only part of it, and that for many donors the reason is the chance to give something back.

Families Can Learn About the Gift, but Not Every Detail

Research for Life matches donors with needs in medical education, scientific research, surgical training and medical advancement. It does not promise that a donor will go to a particular disease or a specific field of study, because those needs change constantly.

Families can request a general statement letter from the organization, which describes the gift in general terms. Research for Life says every donor is treated with dignity and respect throughout the process.

The Misconception Underneath All the Others

Many people grew up believing there is one path after a death: a funeral, a casket, a cemetery and a burial. For some families that is still exactly what they want.

It is not the only option, though, and the useful part is knowing that before a death happens rather than after. A family that has already talked it through is not sorting out cost and paperwork in the middle of a loss.

Research for Life describes whole body donation as a gift that keeps teaching. A donor may help a future physician learn, help a surgeon work out a better technique, or contribute to research or technology that improves care for patients years from now.

Readers who want to know more, including whether a specific condition affects eligibility, can contact Latisha Joseph at Research for Life at 480-940-1310 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..