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Northwestern University Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders Center
Brain Autopsy Instructions for FUNERAL HOMES (Local)
These instructions are to be given to the funeral home in advance, if possible, so that any questions
can be answered to facilitate brain donation.
The family of _____________ has given permission for a brain autopsy (brain removal) to be
conducted as part of a research program at the Northwestern University. The role of the funeral home
in the brain autopsy will be to transport the body to and from the site of brain removal. Please discuss
transportation costs with the family. The removal will be conducted at Northwestern Memorial
Hospital in downtown Chicago. Call (312) 695-7950 to inform the MD of patient’s death.
STEPS FOR TRANSPORTING A BODY TO NORTHWESTERN FOR BRAIN AUTOPSY
IMPORTANT: For medical research, we try to begin the autopsy as soon as possible after
death. PLEASE HOLD EMBALMING PROCEDURES UNTIL AFTER BRAIN REMOVAL.
1. Prior to leaving your facility, be sure that the decedent is appropriately name-tagged. If the
decedent is not name-tagged, the body will not be autopsied. Please list two identifiers on the
tag (e.g. Full Name and Date of Birth)
2. Please inform Northwestern Hospital staff that you are coming to deliver a body by calling the Office
of Medical Records at 312-926-2049 & Fax #: 312-926-4786. If there is no answer at night, please
call (312) 926-2000 and ask for the Administrator on Duty. Any additional delivery information you
may need can be provided by the staff at these numbers.
3. Bring the body to the Northwestern Hospital dock at 715 North Saint Clair Street.
4. Tell the security personnel at the dock that you are delivering a deceased person for an autopsy.
Security will then let you into the hospital.
5. Immediately notify the hospital staff of your arrival. During office hours, call Medical Records at
(312) 926-2049 & Fax #: 312-926-4786. After hours, call (312) 926-2000 and ask for the
Administrator on Duty. If there is any difficulty, have Security call the PDMDC Answering Service and
ask for the Neurologist on Call (312) 695-7950.
6. Medical Records will work with you to coordinate the pick-up of the body after the brain removal is
complete. Brain removal is usually conducted every weekday from 9a.m. to 3p.m. and from 9a.m. to
2p.m. on the weekends. We try to begin the autopsy as soon as possible, but please be aware that it
may take several hours from the time the body is delivered before the autopsy is completed.
Please note: Northwestern University will NOT provide a death certificate. Please assist us in
working with the family to verify that a family MD will be providing a death certificate.
Please contact the Social Worker during regular business hours at 312-503-4397 if you have any
general questions.
ONLY call the 24-hour number, (312) 695-7950 Answering Service and ask for the Neurologist
on Call, after the patient has passed