Sparks Brain Preservation
A Non-profit Organization
For those who wish to receive the highest quality structural brain preservation, timing matters. Our Visitor Room provides a peaceful, private space adjacent to our Procedure Room, allowing preservation to begin within minutes of legal death.
People with terminal illnesses have a range of end-of-life options to consider, including:
- Discontinuing aggressive and unhelpful medical treatment
- Hospice and palliative care
- Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED)
- Palliative sedation
- Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) under Oregon’s Death With Dignity Act
These deeply personal decisions should be made with loved ones and medical professionals. In the context of brain preservation, we call these "end-of-life-cycle" choices, because of our hope that revival may become possible in the future.
The Oregon Death With Dignity Act (also see FAQ) was passed in 1997 and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2006. It allows eligible individuals to self-administer medications prescribed by a physician in order to bring about a peaceful death. A court ruling in 2022 removed the residency requirement.
To help support those choosing the Medical Aid in Dying option who also desire brain preservation, we have created a dedicated Visitor Room in our facility, located right next to our Procedure Room. This space is intended for individuals in the hours immediately prior to legal death and preservation.
Being at our facility for this process can help avoid harmful delays in transport or legal death pronouncement, which may affect preservation quality. We cannot provide MAID services or evaluations ourselves, but we are happy to work with outside providers to help honor someone’s wishes.
Sparks Brain Preservation is not a medical or assisted living facility. We are not licensed to provide care such as food, bathing, or medical care. Because the timing of legal death can be unpredictable, we can only accommodate someone in the last hours prior to brain preservation.
If you are considering using the Visitor Room, please reach out to us early. We are here to support your planning and coordination during this important and emotional time to the best of our ability. We deeply appreciate the trust placed in us and will do everything we can to honor your wishes with respect and care.
Can my family be with me in the Visitor Room?
Yes, absolutely. The Visitor Room is able to accommodate you and your loved ones during this important time. We encourage you to have whoever brings you comfort present.
Do I need to be an Oregon resident to use the Visitor Room?
No. A 2022 court ruling removed Oregon's residency requirement for Death With Dignity. However, you must still meet all other eligibility requirements and work with Oregon healthcare professionals.
How much advance notice do you need?
Please contact us as soon as you’ve decided to pursue MAID. While we will also do our best to accommodate last-minute requests, advance planning allows us to properly prepare the Visitor Room and our preservation team.
Is there an additional cost for using the Visitor Room?
No, there is no additional cost for this. For those enrolled in our free research program, there is no charge. For others, the Visitor Room use is included in our standard “Legal Death in Our Visitor Room” preservation fee. See Services.
What makes the preservation quality better when using the Visitor Room?
Every minute between legal death and the start of preservation matters. Being in the room next door means we can begin the preservation immediately rather than hours, and there are no delays from transportation or waiting for legal death pronouncement at another location.