With even the most basic form of cremation costing a thousand dollars or more, many families are looking for ways to reduce costs and simplify arrangements while still offering a meaningful tribute to their loved ones.
One way to find comfort in death is to donate a body to medical science. Body donation with cremation alleviates the costs and contributes to the advancement of medical education and research. In Henderson, body donation with cremation through United Tissue Network (UTN), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that has already helped nearly 12,000 families create a lasting legacy.
How Body Donation with Cremation Works
Donated bodies are utilized by accredited medical research and educational institutions to teach anatomy, develop surgical procedures, and improve patient care. Through United Tissue Network, the process is coordinated seamlessly and provided at no cost to the family. Here’s how the process works:
- Registration: Donors or their families complete a brief registration form online along with a brief medical history.
- Evaluation: UTN reviews the medical information to ensure eligibility.
- Transportation: At the time of death, UTN handles the logistics, arranging for transportation of the deceased and placement with a reputable medical education or research facility, along with the documentation required.
- Research and training: Studies can last from a few weeks to several years, depending on the research process.
- Cremation: After studies conclude, UTN arranges for cremation at no cost. Cremated remains can be returned to the family upon request.
UTN follows all ethical and regulatory standards established by the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) and the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA), ensuring donors and families are treated with the highest level of respect and dignity.
Qualifications for Body Donation
Almost all adults can donate a body and receive free cremation through United Tissue Network. Although a medical review is conducted at the time of death, here are the general qualifications:
- Donors must be adults 18 years or older, with no upper age limit, and be able to provide legal consent.
- Most health conditions, including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses, are accepted as they are highly valuable for medical study and training.
- The only automatic disqualifier is a contagious disease, such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, or tuberculosis that can create biohazards or potential harm to researchers.
You are encouraged to pre-register and document your wishes ahead of time. This makes the process smoother at the time of death. However, family members can donate a body and get free cremation when a loved one passes away if they have the legal right to provide consent.
Research Supported by Body Donation in Nevada
In Nevada, donated bodies contribute to a range of scientific fields. Medical schools utilize donated bodies to provide hands-on training for students and also conduct a wide range of research studies to help improve the quality of life for future generations.
Cadaver labs at both the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) provide students with anatomy education and surgical technique development as well as conduct research. Here are just a few of the areas where these medical schools are focusing their efforts.
| UNLV RESEARCH STUDIES | UNR RESEARCH STUDIES |
| Alzheimer’s and Dementia | Cardiovascular and Neurological |
| Lupus and Autoimmune Disease | Chronic Fatigue and Microbiome |
| Autism and Neuroscience | Cancer |
| Diabetes | Clinical Research Infrastructure |
| Prosthetics and Rehabilitation |
There are also studies underway at private research facilities that are studying diseases, testing medical devices, and exploring new treatments.
One note here. UNR does accept body donations directly, but only from those within a 50-mile radius. UNLV does not accept bodies directly at this time. However, you can donate a body and get free cremation through UTN.
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Why Henderson Families Choose Body Donation
For families in Henderson, whole body donation provides both emotional comfort and financial relief. It offers a way to transform personal loss into progress for humanity, while eliminating the high costs associated with traditional cremation or burial. All expenses are fully covered by UTN, including transportation of the deceased, placement with a reputable medical education or research facility, cremation after research has concluded, and return of the cremated remains upon request.
Nevada has the highest cremation rate in America- yet most families still pay thousands for arrangements. There’s a better path: body donation through United Tissue Network costs nothing and turns what would be a simple cremation into a gift that advances medicine for generations. Learn about body donation to receive free cremation in Nevada while helping train future healthcare professionals.
