If you wish to donate your whole body for medical training or research, it is essential that before you die, you make your wishes known in writing and that this is witnessed.
It is an important part of the training of medical students that they learn the detailed structure of the body. Many advanced surgical techniques also need to be learnt using actual bodies rather than models. Some research into disease prevention and treatment can only be carried out using real tissue.
You should also inform your next of kin and the executor of your Will if this is not the same person. Your executor or next of kin are not allowed to arrange whole body donation if you have not given consent yourself during your life. The Human Tissue Authority has created a form to express your desire to donate your body. Click here to download the form from their website.
It is not always possible for a body to be accepted after death has occurred as it will depend on both the requirements of the medical schools at the time and also the circumstances of the death and the conditions from which the person died.
Where there is a whole body donation, the funeral is usually arranged by the medical school as there may be a delay of about two years before it takes place. Memorial services are arranged regularly to which families are invited.
Click here for further information and details of medical schools in the UK.
The Human Tissue Authority licenses premises and regulates post mortem examinations (except those done for the Coroner) and body donations in England, Wales & Northern Ireland. It also undertakes certain activities on behalf of the Scottish Executive which has separate legislation.
The Human Tissue Authority
Finlaison House
15-17 Furnival Street
London
EC4A 1AB
Tel: 0207 211 3400
W: http://www.hta.gov.uk/
As soon as possible after death, those making the arrangements should contact the nearest Medical School, who will provide advice and information on what happens next. To find the nearest Medical School, call the Human Tissue Authority on 0207 211 3400 or click here.
Meanwhile, if the person has not died in hospital, a funeral director should be asked to store the body as soon as possible explaining what is intended.
It is not possible to know in advance whether a medical school will be able to make use of the body as this will depend on need at the time and the circumstances and cause of your death.