For Hospice

There is no pre-registration for donors. All body donations are pending until we have confirmed the donor’s end-of-life medical history (this is to ensure donors are suitable for teaching). 

Locate the prospective donor’s “Donor Card” (a small, wallet-sized card that has the donor’s signature, the signature of 2 witnesses, and specifies “Duke School of Medicine” or “Duke University Medical Center”).  

If the prospective donor DOES NOT have a Donor Card, and can no longer sign a legal document (i.e., has passed or is not of sound mind) have the family contact us (919-812-7430) and we will send them an “Agreement to Donation” that the NOK or HCPOA can sign on the donor’s behalf.  

Please have someone (family member, hospice staff, funeral home staff, etc.) send us a photocopy of the Donor Card (via secure email to the appropriate Duke Anatomical Gifts Program team member or Fax: 919-681-5520) 

Please anticipate a call from one of the Duke Anatomical Gifts Program team members to confirm the donor’s medical history. We need to confirm the donor’s height, weight, and conditions present at the end-of-life. Please see our donation criteria (link) to see what else we may ask you about.  

At the time of death:  

CALL A FUNERAL HOME/ MORTUARY TRANSPORT OF THE FAMILY’S PREFERENCE.  

Have the funeral home/mortuary transport remove the body from the death location, and then keep donor’s remains in cold storage.  

Call our “Death Call Line” (919-812-7430) and leave an informative voicemail.  

Duke Anatomical Gifts will be in touch with the donor’s family and funeral home on the next business day.