Cadaveric Donor Policy

The ability to perform ultrasound guided regional anesthesia nerve blocks is a vital skill set required by anesthesia providers to provide adequate analgesia for the acute pain of surgery. Throughout the history of medical education this skill has typically been gained from performing the procedures on live patients prior to their surgery and mentored by a more experienced provider. However, time constraints and fast paced surgical schedules hinder the learning process. Maverick believes the initial training should occur on cadaveric specimens to provide the real world, life-like look and feel that providers will experience in the hospital setting.

Maverick utilizes cadavers with a proprietary embalming process and patented arterial pulsatile flow to provide a life-like realistic learning experience that cannot be replicated with gel phantoms or virtual training alone. The ability to perform dozens of ultrasound guided injections on cadaveric specimens with a pulse over a weekend prepares the provider to confidently and safely perform the injection on live patients in their practice.

Our dedication to providing the most cutting edge, realistic training possible has led us to train over 6000 CRNAs and student CRNAs since 2010. This training would not be possible without the selfless individuals who choose to donate their bodies for medical education.

Maverick made the decision in 2016 to incorporate the use of cadavers into its curriculum, feeling they give the learner the ability to perform new skills repetitively for higher confidence, accuracy, and safety.

The cadaver procurement process includes a light embalming process to replicate the suppleness of live skin and muscle tissue. After processing, the cadaver is professionally draped, only showing a small window of anatomy relevant to the block, and placed at ultrasound stations. The participants practice performing blocks at each station to gain confidence in the ability to perform this on a live person in their practice. The donors for each lab are prepared specifically for Maverick and follow patented guidelines. Our participants will be part of the last few individuals to interact with the donors.

A portion of all course registration fees goes towards compensating the donation organizations responsible for the recovery of donor tissue. These fees help cover transport, storage, preparation, cremation, and final disposition costs of the donors so that a family’s expenses are mitigated or absorbed. We are deeply grateful to the donor and their families for their contributions to advancing medical education.

At Maverick, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical responsibility when it comes to the use of cadaveric tissue.

• A Higher Standard of Donation: While regulations surrounding body donation vary from state to state, Maverick is establishing our own internal policy that goes above and beyond many state regulations.
• Accredited and Registered Donation Organizations: Maverick exclusively works with AATB-accredited non-transplant anatomical donation organizations or Texas Funeral Service Commission-approved donor programs. These organizations are required to adhere to ethical and professional standards in the handling and use of cadaveric donations.
• www.aatb.org/
• www.tfsc.texas.gov/

www.researchforlife.org/blog/a-deep-dive-into-the-history-of-cadaver-use-and-whole-body-donation/

The practice of donating human bodies for scientific and educational purposes has a long history, stretching back centuries. In the U.S., the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA) provides a federal framework for body donation. While all states have adopted versions of this Act, they may modify certain provisions to suit local laws and regulations.

Body donation plays a crucial role in advancing medical education and scientific research. Thanks to individuals who choose to donate, countless medical students and professionals are able to receive realistic, hands-on experience that ultimately saves lives.

In some states, local municipalities have the authority to bury, cremate, or donate the bodies of individuals classified as “unclaimed,” meaning they either have no family members to take responsibility for their disposition or family members cannot be located. Historically, these individuals have been cremated and/or buried in “pauper’s cemeteries,”. While many donation organizations are working to reduce or halt the use of unclaimed donors, Maverick has made it clear that we will not accept tissue from unclaimed donations.

• Maverick’s Stance: While some states legally permit the use of unclaimed bodies for donation, Maverick has set a higher ethical standard. We only accept cadaveric tissue from accredited donation organizations that follow strict ethical guidelines, ensuring that all donations are made with informed consent under a “claimed” status.
• Why This Matters: By excluding unclaimed bodies, Maverick ensures that all donations are made voluntarily and with the dignity and respect they deserve. We are committed to ethical practices and believe that the medical education we provide must align with these principles. Just because something is legal, cost effective, or easy, does not make it ethical.

Maverick’s dedication to ethical standards goes beyond legal requirements. We believe that each donation is a gift that must be handled with the utmost respect. Our training and usage policies are designed not only to comply with federal and state laws but also to ensure that donors’ contributions are honored in the most respectful and responsible way. All donor-specimens have been screened and serologically tested for AIDS or HIV, Hepatitis B and C.

We invite our partners, students, and the public to understand the significant role that cadaveric donations play in advancing medical knowledge and care. At Maverick, we take this responsibility seriously and are proud to set a high standard for the ethical use of donor tissue in our training programs. We welcome other fields of medical educators to join us in a pursuit of uniformity in high ethical standards and practices.