Service Review—MedCure
By M. Kotch
Zombies, body snatchers, Rocky Horror Picture Show. All these things scream Halloween, don’t they? But one of these things is not like the other. One furthers modern science—no snatching necessary—and is responsible for all the modern medical marvels we take for granted: body donation.
When we strip away all our misconceptions about body donation, what are we left with? Very often, jumbled knowledge that groups body donation and organ donation (or transplants) into the same category. We’ve established the difference between the two in an earlier article. But unlike with organ donation, you can’t indicate your choice or preference as easily on your driver’s license. Body donation for medical and scientific research is a noble and somewhat convenient way to deal with your remains after death. And if you’re green-minded or eco-conscious and have been considering a green funeral, nothing beats body donation as the ultimate recycling plan for your remains. But what’s an easy way to go about body donation?
The founders of MedCure have streamlined the complicated process of donating one’s remains to medical research. Once upon a time, bodies were donated through funeral parlors and hospitals when no next of kin turned up to claim a loved one’s remains. Another option was contacting a local medical school (if you happened to live near one) and requesting information to donate your remains. Those days have been replaced with a growing number of willing and enthusiastic individuals who look upon body donation in the same light as organ donation. Some think of it as continuing the circle of life—while sparing their loved ones burial expenses.
Based in Portland, Oregon, MedCure acts as a national liaison between medical research facilities (including medical schools) and those who wish to donate their remains for medical research. Those who have arrived at this decision can be sure their final wishes will be carried out, regardless of proximity to medical schools or other facilities.
- How it Works
You can pre-register with the company by contacting MedCure directly. Posthumously, your family or next of kin can give permission. Logistically, your family and loved ones don’t have to take care of any burial or transportation fees or planning. MedCure will transport the remains to medical researchers and take care of cremation, as well as transfer of remains back to family and loved ones. Two death certificates will be certified and issued to next of kin in about four weeks.
- How Much It Costs
Nothing. MedCure pays for all transportation, cremation and death certificate fees. Note: The law prohibits any compensation for donated organs or tissues for research or any other purpose. Donors (and their families) are never compensated for their donation.
- Can Everyone Donate?
No. According to MedCure, body donation is not an option for everyone. Restrictions apply, including the following conditions:
o Infectious blood diseases
o Active tuberculoses
o Severe obesity
o Past or present intravenous drug use
- Does Body Donation Lead to New Treatments or Medical Advances?
Yes—everyday. In order for doctors and researchers to understand new treatments and medications, they need to study their effects on all types of tissue: young and aging, sick and healthy. Thanks to such research, newer, more precise medications (that are easier for the body to absorb with fewer side effects) are introduced everyday. Less invasive operations and outpatient procedures are a product of such research.
- Can Donors Choose the Research They Contribute To?
While MedCure does not guarantee matching donors with particular studies or disease research programs, the company has matched individuals with particular causes in the past, and will make an effort to match donors with their chosen research subject.
MedCure is not a non-profit organization; the company receives funds on a “cost recovery system” in which they are compensated for fees incurred by medical research facilities.
For more information, visit www.MedCure.org
November 13th, 2009
The least respected organization in the industry. I advise you to try another similar group.
November 19th, 2009
Why? Where can I locate others in the industry?
December 23rd, 2009
Troy used to work for them. He’s correct, and I also suggest you try another. Google “Body Donation” and several will come up that offer donation at no cost.
February 22nd, 2010
Do not, under circumstances, use Medcure. I donated my husband body and, for the rest of my life, will be left with the horror Medcure inflicted on my family. They are nothing more than glorified body brokers. You, or your loved one, will not be treated with the respect they deserve. Medcure only cares how much money they can make for body parts…although it is illegal to profit from the sale of human body parts. However, Medcure (and companies like them) circumvent the law by charging “fees” or using cadaver parts at their “training facilities” where they charge for training.
You will never know for sure what happened to your loved one (even if you request that the cremated remains be returned to you…as we did), and Medcure really doesn’t care.
This is a company and a type of business that is running wild and is very profitable without proper regulations in place. Please choose a reputable school instead…I wish we did.
February 25th, 2010
Thank you Merri for what you posted, as it is very timely. If what you say is true (no offense, but comments can be left by people wanting to smear a person or company for reasons other than true facts), you have just educated me to contact local teaching hospitals instead of MedCure … but they sure do make the whole donation process sound all nice and respectable on their website.
Again, as I said and am very well aware, not everything we read on the ‘net is true, no matter how professional a website may appear.
February 28th, 2010
Dear Concerned Partner,
Please be assured that everything I wrote about Medcure is true. I have no other motives but to let people know what this company is really about and what they did to my family. Yes…they did a wonderful job with their site. But, this is strictly a “for profit business”, and there is no thought given to the donor and the donor’s family.
My husband died at a young age, and we were not prepared…both emotionally and financially. Knowing our circumstances, a relative found Medcure on the internet for us. It seemed like the perfect answer for us. We could turn our tragedy into a contribution.
I will spend the rest of my life wishing I never heard of Medcure.
March 6th, 2010
Hey, at least these guys aren’t driving a new Bugatti like one of the other body donation owners.
March 11th, 2010
My best friend donated their body through MedCure and it was nothing but a positive experience. From the initial phone call, to receiving the family receiving her cremated remains back in a nice urn, to reading the letter they sent explaining the benefits her donation made possible – it was all handled very well. “Merri” above states that “you will never know what happened to your loved one….and MedCure just doesn’t care”. Well, they let my friends family know everything they wanted to know. When I called MedCure, they answered every question I asked very clearly. I know this wasn’t MY family member and I was unsure of my friends decision at the time, but I am even more convinced now this is something positive to do- a little detour before I get cremated that will help SOMETHING. I have read and done a lot of research for myself and learned that there are many “for profit” and “non-profit” companies out there where you can donate your body. Turns out that they all get “reimbursed” the same way from the people who use cadaver donations. The posting by Merri stated that they are “circumventing the law” and “they are nothing but glorified body brokers”. But when you dig deeper and ask more questions (which I did!) it turns out that even the places that remove organs for transplant donation make their money the same way and NOBODY questions what they do – how do you think the organ donation or removal people make their money? I think donation of a body is the least wasteful thing to do and there a lot of ways to do it.
March 27th, 2010
I and my husband as well will be contributing our bodies to MedCure. We were going to contribute to the University of Florida, Gainesville but found out that we would be charged $3000 for any funeral home to transport our invidual bodies to the facility. (150 miles from our home). At least Med Cure does send the bodies out for research before cremation which is better than just planting a body in the ground to rot. Merri does not have her facts straight and while she may be hurting and sad, it is not a good thing to trash this company which is providing a good service. The people who will be crying the blues are the funeral home operators who thought nothing of charging $8500 for a ’standard’ funeral.
March 29th, 2010
Finding a “Cure”, impossible with this type of program. Nice name though. Warm and fuzzy heart on their homepage too. Marketing genius I tell ya.
June 8th, 2010
Merri,
I have had the info for MedCure for a long time. They have no complaints with the BBB. I have terminal cancer with not much time left. My husband was laid off about 2 years ago, we have been borrowing money from family and friends just to try to keep our house because I could not take the stress of losing the house and moving right now.
I was all for a free way to die. I checked into cremation. About 5k. Funeral and regular burial about 10-15k. I live in the Tampa Bay Florida area and USF in Tampa has a donation process for med students.
When I called them they let me know that there is a fee of 3-$5,000. For “processing and handling of the body” and the family does not get any remains. Since it was right next to Moffitt Cancer Center which has kept me alive this long, I really wanted to donate my body but they have made that impossible.
After reading your comments I don’t know what to do. Can you please explain the detail on what was “horrifying”? I can’t imagine what it could be. If anyone else has any other ways to die without breaking the bank of the entire family I would love to hear it.
June 11th, 2010
There is a place for an organization like MedCure, who can sometimes accept people who would not be eligible for transplant donation. But rest assured, if someone WAS eligible for transplant donation (which can greatly improve quality of life like reducing pain, increasing mobility, restoring sight, or even saving lives in the case of organ donation) but MedCure got to them first, they would recover the same tissues that could be used for transplant. They do not have a very “open door” policy and are not subject to regulation by either the FDA or Health and Human Services.
Another wonderful marketing ploy? Offering free cremation to next-of-kin. How is that not providing compensation for body parts? I believe they call it part of the “donation process” but in reality, cremation or embalming or green burial (whatever people choose for final disposition) is part of the death and dying process.
Do your research people. Make an educated choice.
June 17th, 2010
I do not understand where these degrading comments stem from. My experience with MedCure was nothing but wonderful. My husband was able to donate to Lion’s Eye Bank prior to his donation to MedCure and everything went quite smoothly. The person I spoke with answered all my questions and was always there when I had more questions or needed assistance.
I had the option of receiving a letter telling me how my husband’s donation was utilized for research. MedCure isn’t hiding anything and they are doing a great service. If you are considering donation, call them, ask questions and then make your decision. I highly recommend them and plan on donating my own body to MedCure.
June 19th, 2010
Merri – what a waste of your life .. the body was a gift.. a vacated gift and students etc have benefited and their gratefulness is within their lives… it does cost money to process, ship, and educate, space is not free.. I will absolutely consider the ease of Medcure when I am done with my body. I have no attachment to be parted out etc. It is the way it wouuld happen if I naturally decomposed adn spread out with the wind around the world. Amazing.
July 21st, 2010
I am an employee of MedCure and wanted to assure the internet audience that the families of our donors are highly satisfied with our services. This is evidenced by a survey we send to families that they complete voluntarily and anonymously. 95% of the families surveyed would “highly recommend MedCure to their friends or family”. I regret that Merri did not have a positive experience with the donation of her husband and wish I knew what exactly had happened to contribute to her experience. Since I will likely never know, I offer the following responses to “Merri’s” comments:
“My husband died at a young age and we were not prepared…both emotionally and financially…a relative found MedCure on the internet for us.” –I feel for Merri because it appears the decision to donate was made at a highly emotional time following the sudden and unexpected death of her husband. Someone helped her research options and came upon MedCure. Perhaps she did not fully understand or comprehend our program before making this decision? Unfortunately, I will never know.
“You will never know for sure what happened to your loved one.” –MedCure has a policy to be as transplarent and available as possible. Donation is 100% voluntary. We do not proceed with a donation until we have consent of the next-of-kin and all family members are in agreement to the donation. Our Donor Consent form and Cremation Authorization forms are very informative as to our process. We answer all questions anytime (24 hours) toll-free: 1-866-560-2525. When donation is complete, families may request a letter from us that will tell them how their loved one’s gift contributed to medical science.
“Please choose a reputable school instead” — MedCure serves as a bridge between a donor and the medical researchers and educators that rely on donations. Many reputable medical colleges depend on MedCure to provide them with a donated body for their medical education.
“This type of business is running wild…without proper regulations in place.” — The AATB (American Association of Tissue Banks)is the regulatory agency for tissue banks such as MedCure. It is true that REGULATION is VOLUNTARY and not all body donation programs operate under this regulation. MedCure strictly abides by the operating procedures outlined by the AATB and have volunteered for their regulation. We are currently undergoing our accreditation process with the AATB. This is extra assurance to any prospective donor or their family that we are indeed watched over. You do not receive this accreditation by simply opening your doors for them. You must already be operating successfully under their guidelines to apply for accreditation.
MedCure’s toll-free/24 hour phone number is 1-866-560-2525 and we welcome your questions. We are not here to persuade anyone to donate but we are here to answer any and all questions so each individual can make a fully informed decision for themselves. Thinking about what you want to have happen to you after death BEFORE it happens is VERY important. Whether you donate or not, please save your family the added stress of making last minute arrangements under extreme stress.
September 6th, 2010
AATB takes their sweet time when they know your donor records have been back dated, don’t they? Told you to give up the “Free Cremation” ad too, didn’t they? That’s gotta hurt business.
October 24th, 2010
I have been fighting cancer for 16 years and knew some day the Dr. would tell me that I lost the fight, That happened last Sept 2009, I was given 3 months to live and was told to go home and call Hospice, I did and Hospice came to my home and told me I looked to healthy to be dieing, They asked me if I had seen an Oncologists, I said no and they recommended I see one before I gave up, Anyway I did and received Chemo and went into remission by Feb.2010. But in that time I started to think about how my family would be able to deal with my remains, I have been disabled for 8 years don’t have life insurance or any money in the bank, So I started thinking about donation and found MEDCURE on the net, I checked them out pretty good and found a few people that where not happy with there family members donation but it was only maybe 3 people, Everything else I read or heard was very good, After all your dead what can anyone do to screw you up more. I know I grew up with a lot of guilt, Both my parents died before I was 23 years old and my sister passed away a few years ago, But other then the Funerals I have never been to there graves for any reason and they all are buried only a few miles from me, I decided a long time ago I didn’t want any of my kids or family to ever have to go to my grave site because they had to, And I didn’t want them to feel guilty about not doing it, So I knew I would be cremated and have my ashes scattered and that would remove that problem, When I found MEDCURE and spoke with them I had every question answered and even now I get a question about something and call them and no matter what time of day or night there is someone there to answer my questions, Even the Lady I have lived with and had kids with has decided to donate her Body when her time comes, MEDCURE makes dieing so easy and leaves NO financial burden to your family, At present I’m no longer in remission and the cancer has spread to my brain, It was found soon enough that I was able to get pin point radiation in 2 small spots and brain surgery on a small spot in my motor cortex last month, And in 2 weeks I start Chemo again, I didn’t have any problems the last time and hope I don’t this time, But that’s is in Gods hands. I’m just glad I found MEDCURE and don’t have to put my family through all the hardships of raising money for a Funeral. Like I said your going to be dead what can anyone screw up, As long as they take my body use it to improve health care for others then cremate my remains. It’s all fine with me, As fare as MEDCURE making money from my remains ( Who cares ) they are taking a real big load of my mind and that may be part of the reason I have been able to spend more time fighting the cancer instead of worrying about getting the cash to be berried or cremated on my own. I feel they offer a great service and would recommend them to everyone. Have a great life and I’ll see you on the other side.
God Bless You All
November 2nd, 2010
My granny past about a month ago unexpectedly. Eventhough, my husband and I are only in our mid 20s and as far as I know in great health, Granny’s passing has really worried me about how we would leave the other with 2 children to care for, if something happened to one of us. First thing I signed up for life insurance from work and now looking into funeral stuff. Years ago when I first heard donating your body was an option I knew it was for me, but never knew so much thought was to go into it. I found Medcure, read everything and got info sent to me as well as some other companies. Medcure within my little research with all it’s pro’s and con’s seems to be the best one of its kind. These comments have helped greatly and i appreciate people taking the time to do this. I strongly agree with the last comment from Lloyd T especially in regards to medcure. They are relinquishing stress from family and close friends and your body will be used to help and further health achievements, as well as giving your family closure to the charities you all helped. ….and they have to get paid somehow and it is great that it doesn’t come from a grieving family in today’s economy!!!!
January 13th, 2011
Thanks to all those who have weighed in here. My family and I are currently considering programs like Neptune and Medcure and I appreciate all of your feedback and stories.
February 15th, 2011
Neptune and Medcure are two very different things. Merri has had a very bad relationship with MedCure and many other have also and yes there are some that do not. But MedCure is a
profit driven business and that facts are they sell disarticulated body parts and are sold
for varying uses. And the ashes that are returned are only those parts of the remains that
did not get sold! They are not regulated by our State Board who governs body handling.
On there website the state “that medcure receives reasonable compensation for the costs incurred
in recovering and matching donors with researcher/educator needs.” A human body is can be
worth a lot of money. Some people do not care if someone makes money on there dead body or
not. But I assure you that this company is profit driven and they will make money not your
survivors. There is no inspection of facifities or licensing and record keeping is poor. And
even at the time of death they might still say no to taking your remains so fo rmany reasons
be prepared.
February 22nd, 2011
Jake, your comments are inaccurate. It is illegal to sell body parts and if we were doing so, we would be stopped. There IS regulation for Non-Transplant Anatomical Tissue Banks – although regulation is voluntary, we allow inspection through the AATB (American Association of Tissue Banks). The AATB is currently revising their regulations to address the specific nature of a non-transplant tissue bank as most of their current regulations are only for TRANSPLANT tissue banks. Just because MedCure is a “for-profit” business, does not mean we are “profit-driven”. People give of their body for research and education for altruistic purposes that are real and life saving and there are costs incurred in the matching a donor with researchers. In appreciation for a person’s donation, there are no costs incurred to the donor or their family for their gift. If you have ever visited a doctor, had surgery or taken a medication in your life YOU have already benefited from the research and education that previous donors have provided the medical community. What a wonderful gift complete strangers have given you! Deciding to donate your body for this purpose is voluntary and you do not HAVE to participate yourself, even if you benefit from this research IN LIFE. I am as close as one can get to body donation, and I consented to this for myself when I die.
March 29th, 2011
Valere, AATB does not inspect facilities nor does anyone in Oregon. I have benefited you are correct. But I find it very interesting that many other non profits do the same thing that
Med Cure does. And how in the recent lobbying in Oregon that if the laws pass that it was commented
that place like this might be going out of business. If the Oregon Lions Eye bank and other
can do it as non profit. Than my comments are correct MedCure is profit driven
and than the cremated remains are only those that were not sold.
April 22nd, 2011
Jake first off, that bill was shot down before it went for vote. Not to say that another may take its place. And it should have been shot down, because it was introduced covertly to slide it through. Secondly, what’s a lot of money to you? These groups make about $3000-6000 per body depending on circumstances and that mid-range equals only two dime-sized corneas in the transplant sector. Transplant is where the money is at, I assure you (unless you count medical school education which is a huge business too). Both transplant and research use euphemisms for everything they do, granted, but don’t think for a minute that these research and education companies don’t work hard for what they get (as do the transplant and medical education groups, of course).
But as far as non-profit? Please! Every non-profit in this industry depends on service fees and very very little comes from monetary donations from the public. In fact, most of these non-profits make generous revenues and pay no taxes. This is another way of saying that they are GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZED! At least the for-profits pay taxes, and in this economy, that’s not a bad thing. And then some of these non-profits who make nice revenues have the nerve to make a religion out of their non-profit status. Here’s the deal Jake. Federally designated Organ Procurement Agencies must be non-profit because Medicare (who pays their fees) requires it. Many of these Organ Banks operate life-saving tissue and a few have their own eye banks, and so their non-profit status is a carry over. I know of several well known non-profit tissue banks that have so much extra money over the years that they spin off industry related or allied for-profit side companies and their senior management officers make a considerable amount of money from this. So please Jake, get over this non-profit mantra.
Let me spell it to you straight Jake. Every industry has their bad apples, and don’t think for a second it doesn’t include the transplant or university systems (I could tell you a story or two just in the NW). In fact, if MedCure got caught doing what one particular university system did in the NW (not once, but twice), someone would go to jail. Instead, this university settled out of court (twice) and it was business as usual with not even a reprimand. I agree that there is not enough oversight in the industry you speak of, but that latest legislation you mentioned (which was shot down) did not include the university system that helped push it into existence. Now that doesn’t sound very fair, does it?
One last thing about MedCure. I don’t like them and I don’t work for them. But at least I know about their industry and apparently yours better than you do. So, don’t just drink the kool-aid Jake. Get educated on the whole story before you start spouting off like you really know something.
May 4th, 2011
Valere, research the UAGA 2006 or any previous version and your state laws closely. The sale of body parts does NOT include research and education, only for transplant and/or therapy. While I personally believe it’s poor idea to sell body parts for research and/or education, it is NOT illegal. I haven’t researched every state’s laws concerning this, but I do know federal law does not prohibit the selling of body parts for research and/or education purposes.
January 14th, 2012
TWAS a quickly death, the morgue I went
and there I stay til family spent,
The price so high, no funeral spree
and there I stayed til coughed up fee,
My family searched , a beg demure
the morgue I stayed til shown MedCure,
No cost for this, no cost for that
the cremation fee was “Free” the chat,
Now my head in Jersey, the rest away
except my feet ashes in heart-shaped lay,
The years have passed, my family held
the knowledge shared my gift cancer felled.
January 17th, 2012
I couldn’t care less what happens to my “shell” when I die. I do know I don’t want my family left with the burden of the expense to dispose of it. So, i’m going with Med Care. Better my body be a learning tool than go to waste rotting underground. Just saying…