Bequest of Bodies For Medical Study Under the Human Tissue Act 2008
General Information, Conditions and Restrictions
Importance of bequests
The chief value of bequests of this kind is for teaching anatomy to medical, dental, physiotherapy, physical education, and science students. Acquiring a sound knowledge of the structure of the human body is possible only if students of anatomy have access to human bodies for careful dissection and study. For this reason it is almost always the Anatomy Departments of Medical Schools that are legally empowered to receive these bodies.
The Department is most grateful to persons who so generously bequeath their bodies for anatomical study. The contribution to the training of tomorrow's doctors, dentists and other health care professionals is enormous.
Use in research
A number of academic staff and postgraduate students in the Department are also using human bodies for research purposes. Currently the major projects are aimed at; exploring the form and function of structures in the neck, the hip and the knee joint, investigating the liver and bile ducts, and gaining a better understanding of the spine and its muscles in health and disease.
Consent of relatives
The bequest of bodies for anatomical study is governed by the Human Tissue Act 2008 and the Department is not permitted to accept a person's body if, after death, any immediate family or close relative objects to the bequest - even though the donor may have expressed his or her wishes in a will. Incorporating a statement in a will serves to emphasise the donor's wishes to relatives and executors, but it cannot make the bequest binding if any near relative should object. For this reason we require the donor and a member of the immediate family to sign a consent form. Please contact the Department for a consent form.
Residential address
The Department accepts bequests from people living in the greater Dunedin (Balclutha to Oamaru), Invercargill (Lumsden to Gore), Christchurch (Ashburton to Cheviot) and Nelson/Marlborough areas only. Should a donor move to live outside these areas, their bequest will not be able to be accepted.
Donation of organs for transplantation
A body from which organs have been removed at the time of death for transplantation cannot subsequently be embalmed properly for anatomical study. Therefore we cannot accept bequests from people whose primary wish is to donate their organs. However, bodies from which the eyes have been removed for corneal grafts are still satisfactory. Where a donor first wishes to consider organ donation, they should contact Organ Donation New Zealand (www.donor.co.nz or 0800 580 500).
Details of medical history
Although not essential, it is sometimes of value to have a record of the main features of any medical history if the donor chooses to provide this. Of course all information received concerning bequests is kept strictly confidential.
Importance of place of death
Because we require the body to be specially embalmed within 24 hours, we cannot normally accept a body if the donor dies outside the accepted area. If a donor, whose bequest is arranged under the conditions set out here, dies elsewhere (such as while on holiday), the Department may not be able to accept the body.
Acceptance by the Department of Anatomy
While the Department endeavours to accept all bequests, there are certain circumstances under which the Department is not able to accept bequests which had previously been registered. The Department is unable to accept bequests from donors who have:
a body weight greater than 90kg.
infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B or C, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, active Tuberculosis, or who are HIV positive.
undergone complicated and/or extensive major surgery within a month of death.
displayed rapid onset of dementia (within six months of death).
undergone a postmortem examination.
lived in the United Kingdom, France or the Republic of Ireland between 1980 and 1996 for a cumulative period of 6 months or more
passed away while outside the accepted catchment areas.
Due to the generous support of the bequest programme there will be occasions when the Department is not able to accept a bequest because we have reached capacity.
With this in mind, it is important that estates make alternative arrangements in case circumstances preclude the Department from being able to accept a bequest.
At the time of death, funeral directors should check with Macdonald and Weston Funeral Directors in Invercargill (218 2156), John Rhind Funeral Directors in Christchurch (379 9920), Marsden House Funeral Directors in Nelson (548 2770), or with staff of the Department of Anatomy at the Otago School of Medical Sciences in Dunedin (0800 580 500), that the Department is still able to accept the bequest.
Donors who permanently change residential address should inform the Department of Anatomy, as different instructions may be necessary, or it may no longer be possible to accept these bequests, if persons move beyond the areas specified previously.
Embalming and transport of a body
The bodies of persons dying in the Otago area are specially embalmed for the Department of Anatomy in Dunedin. The only other places where such embalming is done is at Macdonald and Weston Funeral Directors in Invercargill, John Rhind Funeral Directors in Christchurch and Marsden House Funeral Directors in Nelson, where they prepare the body according to our requirements. A freight service company then transports the body to the Department in a specially constructed container which is more suitable for this purpose than the usual casket. Today's costs normally preclude our using a funeral director's hearse. We can assure donors that the company we employ is aware of the need for dignified and respectful handling of their important commission. Our experience is that people who wish their bodies to be of use after death are not disturbed by the necessity for special embalming or the need for their bodies to be brought to Dunedin in this way.
Funeral service
Because the donor's body has to be specially embalmed very soon after death, it is not possible to hold the usual funeral service with the body present. However, a memorial service can be held without the body being present, if the donor or the relatives wish. This is to be arranged at the estate's expense.
Costs paid by the Department of Anatomy
The Department pays the expenses of our special methods of embalming, and for transporting the body from the place of death to the Department in Dunedin. The Department also pays the cost of cremating the remains. The donor's estate will be required to register the death in the usual way.
Disposal following anatomical study
The anatomical examination of a donor's body at the Department extends through a teaching year or beyond, so that a period of 18 months or longer normally elapses between the death of the donor and the final disposal of his or her remains. Sometimes the Department will retain some body parts for long term study and research. Following the completion of study, the remains are cremated at the Dunedin Crematorium, without a service, and the ashes scattered at Andersons Bay cemetery. We regret that we are unable to make special arrangements for a donor, e.g. for a religious service to be held, or to have a burial. This applies even if the costs were to be paid by the deceased's estate or relatives. We have found that most donors prefer that their remains be cremated and the ashes scattered.
Donors and their families should be aware that on occasion the Department may retain body parts indefinitely for further study. This is allowed under the provisions of the Human Tissue Act 2008.
Return of ashes
When requested, the Department is prepared to consider the return of ashes to the relatives of the deceased. However this does limit our ability to set in place an appropriate study plan and to provide ongoing education for our trainee doctors and dentists, as well as limiting some areas of research. The Department asks that donors and relatives take this into consideration before requesting the return of ashes.
Having considered the above, should relatives wish to proceed with a request for the return of ashes, they should do so, in writing, before the body is removed for embalming. Requests received after this date may mean that it is not possible to return all the ashes, and some parts may have to be retained by the Department.
Maori ceremony
At the beginning of each year a Maori ceremony, or whakawatea, is carried out in the Department’s Dissecting Room where the covered bodies of people about to be studied are resting. This "clearing of the way" ceremony helps the Department’s Maori students who will be attending classes in the Dissecting Room come to terms with death, and is not intended to have any religious significance for the individual bequeathed bodies.
Thanksgiving service
The Department holds an annual service for family and friends of donors, and staff and students of the Department, to give thanks to those whose bodies have been received by the Department. Please contact the Department if you would like more information.
Importance of notifying the Department
Any person wishing to bequeath his or her body to the Department of Anatomy must ensure that they contact the Department in advance. Under the Human Tissue Act 2008, the Department can accept only the bodies of persons with whom prior arrangements have been made.
For further information please contact :
The Bequest Administrator Department of Anatomy Otago School of Medical Sciences PO Box 913, DUNEDIN
Tuesday 28 May 2013 Time: 1-2pm Venue: D’Ath Lecture Theatre, First Floor, Hercus Building
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