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Smaller TextBequeathal Program
1. Body Donation to the Education Program in Anatomy
4. Can the next-of-kin or executor make the decision for someone?
6. Can someone donate their body to a School of Anatomy and their organs for transplant?
8. What happens to a body after donation?
9. What happens at the time of death?
1. Body Donation to the Education Program in Anatomy
Many people wish to bequeath their bodies for medical education and research thereby making a unique contribution to the advancement of medicine. In recognition of this wish, the Human Tissue Gift Act (1971) and the Anatomy Act allow for such bequeathals, provided that there is no objection by the next-of-kin. Donation is supervised through the Chief Coroner of Ontario.
Those who donate their bodies to a School of Anatomy and the families of these individuals are assured dignity and respect that society customarily grants to the deceased. Students preparing themselves for medical and allied health professions are fully aware of the special privilege granted to them. By both law and obligation, they have to conduct themselves in a professional manner during their study of the human body.
Contact 905-525-9140 ext 22273 or write McMaster University, Education Program in Anatomy, 1280 Main St. West, HSC 1R1, Hamilton, Ontario. L8S 4K1 to obtain a "Donation of Body to School of Anatomy" form. Part 1 of the form is to be completed and returned to the Education Program in Anatomy. A duplicate is to retained and should be readily available to the next-of-kin or executor, with whom it is strongly advised the potential donor discuss their wishes. Following the death of a donor, the next-of-kin or executor must be in a position to act immediately on their behalf. Timing is crucial. We also urge potential donors to complete the donor card which the Education Program in Anatomy at McMaster University will send them. This card should be carried at all times.
Anyone may donate their body. There is no age restriction for body donation to the Education Program in Anatomy. However, illnesses and cause of death largely determine who may actually be accepted. The suitability for acceptance will be determined as soon as possible at the time of death.
4. Can the estate executor make the decision for someone?
If, at the time of death, Part I of the Donation of Body form has not been signed, the wishes of the deceased can still be honoured. The estate executor ca complete the form of behalf of the donor.
5. Can the estate executor prevent someone from being a donor even if that person has signed a donation form?
Yes. A signed donation form is only an indication of a potential donor's wishes. It is the responsibility of the donor to ensure that he/she discuss his/her wishes with the estate executor.
6. Can someone donate their body to a School of Anatomy and their organs for transplant?
If a person wishes their body to be bequethed to a School of Anatomy, only the eyes can be donated as a tissue gift for transplant. Further information regarding organ donation can be obtained from:
Trillium Gift of Life Network
984 Bay Street, Suite 503, Toronto, ON M5S 2A5
Phone: 416-921-1130 Toll-free: 1-800-263-2833 Website: www.giftoflife.on.ca
8. What happens to a body after donation?
Anantomical study and/or research in the Education Program in Anatomy is usually completed within five years after receiving a body. In certain cases, entire bodies or portions of a body may be kept indefinitely. The cremated remains are then interred locally in the McMaster University crypt at Bayview Cemetery & Crematory in Burlington, Ontario. The remains of each donor are kept separate and identifiable. All expenses for cremation and interment in the McMaster University crypt are paid for by the Education Program in Anatomy. Within a year of the donation, the donor will be recognized at a Service of Gratitude.
9. What happens at the time of death?
Upon a potential donor's death, a physician or coroner must issure a Medical Proof of Death Certificate. The estate executor must notify the Education Program in Anatomy at McMaster University immediately. If the body of that donor is acceptable and is required, the Education Program in Anatomy will make the necessary arrangements to transport the body from the place of death. Transportation costs will be billed to the estate of the donor.The estate executor must provide the donor's SIN; proof of birth, passport or baptismal certificate; and the full names and birth places for both of the donor's parents. The Education Program in Anatomy will issue twelve Proof of Death certificates.
The Education Program in Anatomy cannot accept the body of a donor until it has been deemed suitable for anatomical studies and is required by the program. All efforts to determine suitability will take place as quickly as possible prior to the transfer of the body to the university.
- Arthritis
- Diabetes mellitus
- Ischemic bowel diseases
- Cardiovascular disease:
- Angina
- Atherosclerotic heart disease (ASHD)
- Heart failure
- Hypertension
- Myocardial infarction (MI) "Heart Attack"
- Cerebral vascular accident (CVA) "Stroke"
- Unruptured aneurysm
- Pacemakers
- Kidney: Renal failure
- Liver: Alcoholic hepatitis
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Lung: Chronic Obstructive Lung Disorder (COPD)
- Emphysema
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Most cancers or lymphomas
- Multiple sclerosis
- Autopsy or Trauma
- Degenerative neurological diseases:
- Jacob-Creutzfeldt
- Rapid onset dementia
- Infections diseases:
- Hepatitis
- Septicemia ("blood poisoning")
- Meningitis
- HIV positive
- Gangrene
- Tuberculosis
- C. difficile
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
- Ruptured aneurysm
- Recent major surgery (within six months prior to death)
- Extreme emaciation: For example, 5'10" (178cm)
- Males under 125 lbs (56 kg).
- Females under 90 lbs (41kg).
- Excessive size: cannot be larger than 6'3" (196cm) and/or 190 lbs (85 kg).
A memorial service is held annually for individuals whose bodies were donated during the previous year. Relatives and friends, as well as staff and students of the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University may attend this service.
