Conduct and Confidentiality Policy Acknowledgement - Center for Forensic Science

Center for Forensic Science Conduct & Confidentiality Policy

It is critical to the success of the Body Donation Program that all donors are treated with respect at all times. Respectful treatment of donors refers to both behavior while working with human remains and discretion when discussing information about donors at the Forensic Research Outdoor Station (FROST) and Forensic Anthropology Research Laboratory (FARL). 

While it is important to the Center for Forensic Science (“Center”) to be transparent about the types of activities, research, education, and training/continuing education associated with Center facilities, some specific information must be protected in order to ensure facility security, research integrity, and responsible treatment of donors.

The individual whose name and signature appear on the following form agrees to the following Center for Forensic Science acceptable conduct and confidentiality guidelines: 

1. All donor remains, regardless of their condition, shall be treated in a dignified manner.  
2. Dignified manner means: 
   1. The remains of more than one donor shall not be commingled (mixed). Remains are considered to be commingled if the remains of more than one individual, whole or in part, occupy the same work surface at the same time. 
   2. Whole body remains (prior to decomposition) shall not be stacked so that one body (with or without a body bag) is ever in direct contact with another body. Side-by-side placement of donor remains or stacking of remains that are contained in sturdy boxes is acceptable. 
   3. Joking and/or the use of derogatory or potentially offensive language about a donor’s appearance, odor, or other condition is unacceptable. 
3. The placement of new donors in the FROST facility or the transportation of donors to or from the FROST/FARL facilities is only discussed on a need-to-know basis. Discussing the date, time, location, or other details of new donor placements or the transportation of donors with persons other than Center personnel, student workers, volunteers, and Authorized Users is prohibited. 
4. Student workers, volunteers, Center personnel, and Authorized Users are not authorized to release donor images or information to the media or members of the public without prior authorization from the Director. The Director has sole discretion regarding release of donor images and information for public consumption.
   1. The University Public Information Officer for the Center for Forensic Science is Kristi Evans in the office of University Marketing and Communications Office. Only Kristi Evans is authorized to release Center information and/or images to the media and the public. 
   2. If a member of the media or the public asks a student worker, volunteer, Center personnel, or Authorized User about our facilities or operations, the student worker, volunteer, personnel, or other authorized user shall refer the individual to the Center Director, who will contact Kristi Evans.
      1. The Director’s contact information is:  

Jane Harris, Ph.D., Email: jwankmil@nmu.edu, Phone: (906) 227-6411

5. Unauthorized capture of images of donors, whole or in part, is prohibited. 
6. Unauthorized release of images of donors, whole or in part, is prohibited. 
7. Unauthorized photography of the FROST or FARL facilities, whole or in part, is prohibited. 
8. Unauthorized handling of donor remains, whole or in part, is prohibited. 
9. Authorization of access to the FROST and FARL facilities, handling donor remains, capturing images of the facilities or the donor remains, collecting data from the facilities or the donor remains, and the release of FROST or FARL information and/or images is granted or denied at the sole discretion of the Director. 
10. Providing access to the FROST or FARL facilities to persons other than authorized FROST or FARL users is prohibited. 
11. For security and out of respect to the donors and their families, Authorized Users shall not provide members of the public or media with the exact location of the FROST facility. 

Center for Forensic Science Conduct & Confidentiality Policy: Definitions 

Authorized User

An Authorized User is any individual who has been authorized by the Center Director or designee to use the property and structures associated with the Center or any associated interior or exterior technology, equipment, vehicles, tools, or data (including images and videos) stored or collected at any of the facilities or property under Center oversight. Authorized Users must meet role-based criteria in order to be granted authorization by the Director or designee

Donor

A “donor” is any individual whose body is under the care of the NMU Center for Forensic Science following donation through the NMU Body Donation Program or after having been transferred to NMU from another institution/Body Donation Program for temporary or permanent curation for the purpose of advancing forensic science research, education, or training. “Donor” refers to the donated remains whole or in part. 

Director

For the purpose of this policy, "Director" refers to the NMU employee whose position description indicates that he/she is responsible for oversight of operations at all Center facilities. The Center "Director" may appoint a designee to assist with oversight of Center operations. The "Director" or designee has sole discretion over authorization of Users and permissions concerning access and use of the Center facilities and any materials (data, images, samples) derived from human remains donated to the Center through the Body Donation Program. The "Director" must occupy a full-time position with the university, but may have a faculty or staff designation.

User

For the purpose of this policy, "User" is any individual who enters, or attempts to enter, uses, or attempts to use the property and structures associated with the Center or any associated interior or exterior technology, equipment, vehicles, tools, or data (including images and videos) stored or collected at any of the facilities or property under Center oversight. All “Authorized Users” fall under “Users,” but not all “Users” are “Authorized Users.”

Image(s)

For the purpose of Center for Forensic Science guidelines, “Image” refers to any visual representation of the FROST or FARL facilities or of the donor remains, whole or in part. Visual representations include drawings, images captured using traditional or digital cameras, video, film, or other recording device, including 3D scanning or printing, that would result in the production of a visual representation of the subject. 

Personnel

For the purpose of Center for Forensic Science guidelines, “Personnel” refers to any staff, faculty, or paid student workers whose title or position description is associated with the operation, data collection, or maintenance of FROST and/or FARL facilities. 

Student Worker

A “Student Worker” may be a departmental assistant or a student specifically assigned to work at the Center for Forensic Science and who is on the NMU payroll for their work. 

Volunteer

A “Volunteer” is any student or former student who has been authorized by the Director to work in the FROST and/or FARL facilities. Volunteers must be currently enrolled as students of Northern Michigan University or recent graduates (up to one semester following graduation from NMU). No external or non-student volunteers are accepted. 

Media

“Media” refers to any media outlet, including print, radio, internet, television, and any other format that releases information to the public. NMU publications and radio are considered Media. 

Public

“Public” refers to anyone who is not Center for Forensic Science personnel, student worker, volunteer, or other Authorized User.

Release

“Release” refers to any display, presentation, publication, storage, or sharing (via any means of communication) of donor-associated images, information, or data outside of the Center or Director-approved research or educational uses.