Donate your body

What happens to donated bodies?

Excerpt taken from www.dh.gov.uk/
"Provided the death has been registered and there is a consent form signed by the donor and held by a medical school, or a donation statement in the Will, the "person in possession of the body" usually the next of kin, will contact the relevant medical school who will ask questions about the cause of death.

Not all bodies that are donated are suitable. However, provided there are no medical reasons against donation (eg a post mortem examination, severe deformity, hepatitis or dementia) the school may accept the body, for "anatomical examination or research", but for a period limited by law to three years.

During the time the school holds the body, it will be used to teach medical students, dentists, trainee surgeons and other health professionals the internal structure and design. This involves detailed separation of the tissues and organs through dissection. Separated parts of the body will be brought together before the body is cremated or buried within three years from the date of death.

If the donor, before death, or the next of kin after death give, their agreement "parts" of the body may be retained for longer than three years. Written agreement confirmed by the next of kin is mandatory before any part can be retained. Approximately, two-thirds of donors agree, in advance, to retention of parts beyond three years.

The particular details for donations to each medical school are set out in the documents, which the donor is asked to read before 'signing up', as an intending body donor. These documents are detailed so that donors and their relatives understand what is involved. If the donor has any questions, these will be answered by the bequeathal secretary at the relevant medical school.

The donor is free to withdraw consent at any time. Under the present law, the next of kin can also decide not to activate the donation.

Most donors take the view 'I don't mind what you do with my body after I have gone' and many say so in their letters requesting donation forms".