The Body Donor Programme
Welcome to the Body Donor Programme at the University of Sydney. This page contains information about the Body Donor Programme and answers to frequently asked questions. Please do not hesitate to contact Katherine Wilkinson on 9351 2519 should you have any questions, or you can email us at: enquiries@anatomy.usyd.edu.au
Why Donate?
The Body Donor Programme depends entirely on the generosity of individuals who wish to donate their bodies and thereby make a unique contribution to the advancement of medicine. The University is extremely grateful to those who have contributed to the advancement of medicine through the donation of their body. This progress is achieved in two ways:
- by providing a teaching resource for which there is no satisfactory substitute;
- by providing research material for the advancement of knowledge of the human body.
Dignity, respect and anonymity are accorded the deceased remains of donors during and after anatomical studies. Students in anatomy are made fully aware of the special privilege granted to them by the generosity of community-minded citizens. You can be certain that by donating your body, you are both advancing medicine and providing invaluable education.
- What kind of education and research do donors contribute to?
- How do I donate my body to medical science?
- What happens when I have registered as a donor?
- Can my family donate my body on my behalf?
- If I've signed my consent form, will the University definitely accept my body?
- What conditions will prevent the University from accepting my body?
- Can I be registered with an organ donor programme as well?
- If the University has my signed consent, what happens after my death?
- What if my family wants to have a Memorial Service?
- Will my body ever be buried and if so, will there be any cost for my family or executor?
1. What kind of education and research do donors contribute to?
Our donors provide crucial education and research for both students and graduates. As well as educating a large number of medical, dental and science undergraduates, the Discipline of Anatomy & Histology also supports students studying for Honours, Bachelor of Science (Medical), Masters and Doctoral degrees. These students are supervised by senior staff who conduct research projects as well as carry out their undergraduate commitments. The University also participates in postgraduate courses for medical and dental graduates studying for their Surgery, Anaesthesia, Dental Surgery and Ophthalmology College Fellowships. [Top]
2. How do I donate my body to medical science?
If you are thinking of donating your body to the University, your first step is to check whether the University is able to accept your bequest. For example, donations can only be accepted from areas within certain geographical boundaries. To check if you can register as a donor, please call Katherine Wilkinson during the hours of 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday, on 9351 2519 or write a letter to:
Donor Programme Co-ordinator
Discipline of Anatomy, F13
School of Medical Sciences
University of Sydney NSW 2006
If you are eligible to become a donor, you will be sent information about the programme and donor forms to complete and for you and your family (or the executor of your Will) to sign. When you have completed them, retain one set and return the other to the address above.
Please note you will only be advised of your registration with the bequest programme once the University has received the completed Donor Offer Forms. Once your signed and witnessed consent form has been received, your details are then held in a confidential file. [Top]
3. What happens when I have registered as a donor?
Once you have been registered as a donor you will be sent a donor card. Your nurse, doctor in attendance or nursing home administrator should be informed of your intentions. It is not compulsory to put your request to donate your remains in your Will as it usually will not be read before the University receives your body. However, many donors do so for clarification purposes.
If your bequest is accepted then it is desirable that you discuss your intentions with your next of kin, who can, in certain circumstances, have legal rights in this matter. It is important that your family accept your wishes. You should also be aware that the University is unable to accept donors suffering certain infectious conditions, which may pose a potential risk to students and staff.
The University's Donor Offer Forms are not legally binding. Should you change your mind at any time you can do so simply by writing to the University. Similarly the University would be grateful if you would notify the Body Donor Programme in writing should your address, or your executor's/next of kin's circumstances change.
If you wish to make a contribution towards expenses that will be incurred by the University, or if you wish to contribute financially to research in the Discipline of Anatomy, this is best arranged in consultation with your solicitor. [Top]
Victoria Park footpath to the University
4. Can my family donate my body on my behalf?
The University can only accept your body if you have completed and signed the Donor Offer forms. It is not possible for your family to donate your body on your behalf after death.
5. If I've signed the consent form, will the University definitely accept my body?
The University regrets that it is not able to guarantee receipt of your donation. The time between the initial registration and the actual donation may be several years or more, and circumstances can alter in such a period.
6. What conditions will prevent the University from accepting my body?
While the University welcomes and greatly values you as a donor, circumstances may arise which may prevent receipt of your body, e.g. if a post mortem is held, or organs have been removed for transplant surgery, or there appears to be a potential health risk to staff and students due to the cause of your death, or more than 24 hours has elapsed between the time of death and notifying the University. On such occasions, the University will advise your executor, administrator, or next of kin of its inability to accept your body and no financial obligation can be accepted by the University. [Top]
7. Can I be registered with an organ donor program as well?
Organ Transplant
It is not possible to register with our bequest program and be an organ donor. If your wish is to be an organ donor, may we suggest you contact the state based organisation for organ and tissue donation - LifeLink - Organ Donation Network NSW/ACT, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, 153 Clarence St Sydney 2000, ph. (02) 9229 4004.
8. If the University has my signed consent, what happens after my death?
At the time of death
Upon your death, your next of kin or the person legally responsible should notify the University, or the University's contracted Funeral Director, as soon as possible. Ideally the body should be delivered to the University within a maximum of 24 hours after death, otherwise the University may not be able to accept the donation.
The contact number for the Discipline of Anatomy and Histology is 9351 2519. After hours (i.e. outside the hours of 9am to 5pm on weekdays), weekends & holidays, a recorded message on this number will provide the telephone number of our contracted Funeral Director.
Immediately upon receipt of notification of death, we, or our Funeral Director will make appropriate arrangements for removal of the body and delivery to the University and meet all relevant expenses associated with your donation. We will also be responsible for burial or cremation as indicated by your preference on the Forms.
Should your relatives wish to place a Death Notice in a newspaper our Funeral Director is able to make the necessary arrangements (see above for contact details). The University does not bear the cost of such notices. Please note that once the body has been delivered to the University, there is normally no further contact with relatives.
There is provision on the Donor's Offer Form for you to indicate whether you give your consent for your body, or tissue taken from it, to be transferred to another licensed institution in Australia where there is a shortage of human material for teaching and research. When anatomical examination of your body has been completed the other licensed institution would make arrangements for a simple burial or cremation as specified by you and would meet the expenses of these arrangements. Where tissue has been transferred to another licensed institution that institution will be required to return it to us so that it can be either buried or cremated (in accordance with your instructions) with the rest of the remains. [Top]
9. What if my family wants to have a Memorial Service?
At the time of death your relatives may organise a ceremony with their chosen Funeral Director. However, the body would not be present as donors are usually delivered to the university within 24 hours after death.
10. Will my body ever be buried or cremated, and if so, will there be any cost for my family or executor?
The University generally completes examination of the deceased remains within 2 years, but may retain them for up to 8 years. It is important you discuss this fact with your next of kin and/or relatives. In some cases, it is extremely beneficial to retain human tissues for on-going and future study beyond 8 years. You are given the opportunity to consent to the retention of human tissue on the Donor Consent Form. [Top]
Cremation or Burial?
After anatomical examination has been completed (normally a period of two years), the University will arrange a simple burial or cremation as indicated by you on your forms. With cremations we are able to offer a brief committal service in accordance with your denominational rites. The University will meet all expenses involved. Arrangements are carried out by our Funeral Director and the remains are finally placed in the grounds of the Northern Suburbs Crematorium or Macquarie Park Cemetery, unless you have specified otherwise on the Donor's Offer Form.
Donors' Memorial
A bronze plaque has been placed in Macquarie Park Cemetery and another in the main courtyard of the Anderson Stuart Building in recognition of those who have donated their bodies for medical investigation. Visitors are welcome to view both areas.
Memorial Plaque & Fountain - Courtyard of the Anderson Stuart Building [Old Medical School]
Can we assist you?
If you have further questions about becoming a donor, please do not hesitate to contact Katherine Wilkinson on 9351 2519 Monday to Friday, between the hours of 9.00am - 5.00pm. We greatly value our potential donors and we would be very happy to assist you with any of your questions.
Thank you for your interest in the Body Donor Programme at the University of Sydney. [Top]
Eastern Façade of Anderson Stuart Building looking west towards RPAH