This question is so weird I should almost save it for a Friday... Years ago our late museum director made a verbal agreement with a woman who wants to donate her spine to the museum. Said woman is now updating her will and was wondering if we hade yet devised an appropriate form for this donation, or phraseology she should include in her will. I assume that, as with organ donation, the most important step is to let your family and doctors know your wishes. Beyond that I get a little fuzzy. I can't really fall back on what we did in the past, because there is no precedent -most of our specimens were collected in the 1800s or early 1900s, predating our current ethical and legal concerns. Specimens collected more recently have either been donated to doctors who then donate to us, or belong to a still living donor. We do want her spine -does anyone have suggestions or forms I could look at?
Margaret Lyman, Curator
Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia
19 South 22nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-563-3737 x244
215-561-6477 (fax)
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