Frequently Asked Questions

How can I leave my body to medical education and science?

Forms authorising the donation of your body can be obtained by calling (02) 4221 4111 or writing to the:

Body Donation Programme
Graduate School of Medicine
Building 28
University of Wollongong
Wollongong NSW 2522
What does ‘Anatomical examination’ mean?

‘Anatomical examination’ is the study of human anatomy for educational purposes. This may involve examination of the exterior and interior parts of your body. To examine the interior parts, your body will be dissected using surgical instruments. This may involve the removal of the skin; the opening of the various cavities of the body; the opening of the skull to allow examination of the brain and the removal of your limbs. All such procedures are performed by trained and highly skilled Anatomy Laboratory staff and / or medical students under supervision. Student dissections are performed to provide surgical experience and training to future doctors.
What is meant by ‘Research for educational benefit’?

Staff and students within educational institutions conduct medical research for the purpose of providing answers to medical questions and publishing the results to a wider academic audience. The data contained within the publications provides educational information that may influence future medical research and / or be used to educate students on particular medical matters.
What is meant by ‘Sponsored research’?

The University may, when approached, provide services to outside organisations for the purpose of medical research. Medical researchers from these organisations may wish to conduct research involving your body and/or tissue from your body. Examples of such research may include, but are not limited to, the development of new surgical techniques, collection of tissue for examination (structure, disease state etc.) to develop new medical treatments and the testing of new imaging techniques. The University provides this service on a ‘cost recovery’ basis and does not attempt to make any financial gain from your donation.
Will my personal information be disclosed in the research findings?

No. Any results obtained from research conducted on your body and / or tissue will be grouped with those of other donors for the purposes of report generation. Please note that you will not be individually identified in any publication, report or oral presentation of the research findings.
Will my body be used for teaching or research?

Most bodies are used to teach medical students and those in allied health fields such as nursing and the medical sciences. Some bodies are used for research to advance our medical knowledge or to study new operative techniques for example. The University will not use your body for research unless you provide consent.
Will my body remain at the University of Wollongong?

Your body will not be transferred unless you have provided the University with consent.

The University makes every effort to store and use all donated bodies on campus. However, the University has a limit on its storage facilities, and its ability to retain your body will depend on storage capacity. If there is insufficient storage available, from time to time the University may either (a) cremate bodies that it cannot store, or (b) transfer some bodies to other educational institutions for anatomical examination and research for educational benefit. These institutions must hold the relevant anatomical licences and will be required to return your ashes to the University.

The University may charge the other institution a fee for receiving your body, but this fee is limited to only that amount necessary to recover costs incurred in the preparation and transfer of your body.

Your body will only be transferred to another educational institution if you provide us with consent to do so.
What is meant on the donation form by "retention of tissue" for teaching purposes?

An organ or other part of your body may be unusual (due to an abnormally developed, or diseased organ or part), and as a result may be particularly useful for teaching and research purposes. Such a specimen may be "preserved" so that it may be used over and over without deterioration so that many groups of students may study it.
Who may serve as a witness to my donation?

Any person 18 years or older, preferably someone expected to survive you, may act as your witness. Signatures of at least one such witness is required on the donation forms.
Can I donate someone else's body, such as my wife's or my husband's?

The University is only able to receive donations that are made by the donor during his/her life. Your next of kin cannot donate your body after death. No other persons are legally able to sign the donation papers on your behalf.
Should the donor inform someone of the bequest? Is it necessary to include my body donation in my will?

Your survivor or designated responsible party should be informed of the arrangements you have made. You may also choose to inform your family, doctor and solicitor of your wishes.

You do not need to include the bequest in your will, as your will may not be read in time for delivery of your body to the University. It is more important to have your instructions readily available on a wallet donation card, or donation form, and have your survivors fully aware of your intentions. However, should you wish to include the donation in your will, a simple statement including the words “I have expressed the wish for and consented to the anatomical examination of my body at The University of Wollongong and the removal of tissue from my body to be used for medical and or scientific research purposes and I confirm that my wish and that consent has not been withdrawn or revoked by me.” can be included. Please note that it is not sufficient to just include this statement in your will. You are still required to formally apply to the University, as described above, in order to formalise the bequest.
What arrangement should I make if I am admitted into a hospital, move to a retirement community, a nursing home or any type of care facility prior to my death?

If you are admitted into a hospital, move to a retirement community, a nursing home or any type of care facility, it is recommended that a copy of the “Offer of Remains for Anatomical Examination” form be placed on your chart or care plan. When death occurs, the University should be notified immediately by phoning (02) 4221 5143 or 0418 277 345. Arrangements will then be made to receive the body into our Programme.
Will any payment be received for the body?

No payment may be made by the University to the donor in connection with a body donation. However, by donating your body you are exempted from all funeral expenses.
Will any payment be received if my body is used for research?

No payment may be made by the University to the donor in connection with a body being used for research. All medical research is conducted on a ‘cost recovery’ basis.
If a bequest is made, and the donor has a change of mind later, can the gift be rescinded?

Yes, if the request is made in writing by the donor or his/her Power of Attorney.
What is the procedure upon the death of the donor? What if I should die on a weekend or holiday?

When you die, your immediate next of kin, executor, Power of Attorney, or medical staff member should notify the Body Donation Programme as soon as possible by calling (02) 4221 5143 or (02) 4221 4342. If the call is made outside office hours, the caller will be directed to contact the mobile phone (0418 277 345) of the Body Donation Programme Coordinator. If your body is deemed suitable and the donation accepted, the body will be collected and transported to the University either by our nominated Funeral Director or one of your family’s choice – at no cost to your next of kin. Here an embalming process will be carried out to preserve the tissues in a sterile condition. The body is then placed in cold storage until required.
How long will the University keep my body?

Under the NSW Anatomy Act (1977) and the Human Tissue and Anatomy Legislation Amendment Act (2003), the University is legally allowed to retain your body for teaching and research purposes for four (4) years. The University may apply to the Anatomy Inspector (NSW Department of Health) for an extension of the retention period up to a maximum of four (4) years. The University of Wollongong, in most cases, will apply for the extension of the retention period in order to maximise the use of such a valuable donation. The University will dispose of your body at a time no longer than eight (8) years from your date of death. You are encouraged to inform your family as to the length of the donation period.
Will the University accept my body if I die out-of-state?

No. Because of transportation costs, legal issues, and potential deterioration of the body, donations will only be accepted if death occurs within the State of NSW.
What expenses are involved upon the death of the donor?

The University will assume all costs to transport the donor’s body provided that death occurs within a 100 km radius of the main Wollongong campus. Should death occur outside the 100 km range, the cost of the transport will be covered on a pro-rata basis with the family. The only expense to the family or to the estate may be the cost of the Death Certificate. Should a donor wish to include a bequest in their will to cover these costs or toward supporting various research Programmes, the University would be most grateful for such additional generosity.
Is it possible for an ambulance service, or even my family, to deliver my body to the University?

No, NSW state law requires a licensed funeral director to conduct all body transportations. All donors are transported in a professional and ethical manner in vehicles equipped with proper mortuary transportation systems.
Are there any conditions which would invalidate my donation?

You should be aware that there are certain circumstances which preclude the University from accepting a human body. These include if the donor:
- Has been significantly affected by certain medical conditions or procedures, such as amputations or disease,
- Has undergone an autopsy,
- Has undergone whole organ donation,
- Is obese or emaciated,
- Has Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (VCJD) or rapid onset dementia of undetermined nature,
- Has certain other communicable diseases (e.g. all strains of hepatitis, AIDS/HIV, tuberculosis) or antibiotic resistant bacterial infections such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE),
- Has resided in the UK between 1980 and 1996 for a total (cumulative) time of 6 months or more,
- Has received blood transfusions in the UK since 1 January 1980
- Cannot be transferred to the University within 48 hours of death.
OR if there is insufficient space within the Anatomy Facility for the correct storage of your body.

It should be understood that determination of the acceptability of a body for donation can only be made at the time of death, since the cause of death may render the donation unusable for study. To avoid undue grief and disappointment to members of your family, they should be made aware of these conditions.
Will my blood be screened for infectious diseases?

Under the NSW OH&S Act, the University of Wollongong has a duty of care to provide and maintain a safe working and social environment for the entire University community comprising students, staff and visitors. Specific to the Anatomy facility and anatomical education practices, is the need to screen the blood of all deceased donors to ensure that the risk of blood borne transmissible infectious diseases is kept to a minimum. Infection control is based on the Standard (Universal) Precautions Model which requires that all individuals are regarded as potentially infected with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, and other blood/body substance transmitted pathogens, and that infection control procedures are applied accordingly.

All donated bodies will have blood samples taken and tested for infectious diseases. Specifically, we employ the 3 test profile for HIV antibodies, hepatitis B surface antigen and antibodies to hepatitis C. This approach is necessary, as an individual's actual infection status is unknown at any given time.

Test Results:

The University of Wollongong outsources the blood testing to an external pathology laboratory. Under the Public Health Act 1991, the pathology laboratory has an obligation to notify NSW Health is a blood test confirms certain reportable diseases.

The University will not contact your next of kin to notify them of any abnormal results on infectious diseases once testing is completed. NSW Health will contact the University after the test results have been reported and may ask for your next of kin details. While NSW Health can locate your next of kin without UOW’s cooperation, we can provide NSW Health with this information with your consent.

If blood borne pathogens are identified, the University of Wollongong is unable to use your body for examination and research.
What happens if my body is not suitable for any reason?

If your body is not suitable for donation the next of kin will be notified as soon as possible (usually within one week after death) so that they can make alternative funeral arrangements. The University will work with your family members to organise for the transfer of your body to their / preferred Funeral Director. As we can never guarantee acceptance, The University of Wollongong cannot be held liable for any costs incurred through the rejection of a donation for any reason. It is incumbent upon the next of kin to notify the University of the death as soon as possible so that we may determine suitability.
Can a person be too old to donate his or her body?

No. Age is not a consideration in body donation. Only the conditions described above may make a donation unacceptable. Donors must be over 18 years of age to be accepted into the Programme.
What should I do if I am an organ donor?

The University encourages you to remain a registered organ donor as your donation may save another persons life. As age, health and lifestyle are no restriction to organ donation, many people in their 80's have saved the lives of much younger people. If you and your family make the choice to donate your organs, the donation of your whole body to the University of Wollongong will not be possible.
Will my family receive a report of your findings?

No. We do not conduct autopsies and no specific reports regarding your body will be prepared. Bodies are used anonymously in education and research and no record of our findings will be kept by students. As your body may be utilised in anatomical research, scientific reports will be published in appropriate scientific journals. However, at all times your particular results will remain anonymous.
What about autopsies before donation?

Bodies that have undergone autopsy are not accepted into the Programme as their value for anatomical study has been limited.
What is the final disposition of my body following study?

When the University has completed anatomical examination of your body (which may take up to eight (8) years), your body will be cremated or buried according to your wishes. Costs of cremation will be borne by the University with your ashes returned to your next of kin or scattered at the University’s Memorial Stone (see below). Costs associated with burial, and any additional services, will be a private arrangement between your next-of-kin and the provider of the service. In the case of burial, the University requests potential donors purchase a pre-paid plot of their choice.
Is there a memorial service for the donors?

Yes. The University of Wollongong conducts an annual memorial service commemorating our donors. The University has placed a Memorial Stone at the Lakeside Memorial Park and Crematorium at Kanahooka in recognition of those who have donated their bodies to science. A small individual plaque containing the donor’s name is placed on the surrounding stones to signify those whose ashes have been scattered in the garden. Visitors are welcome to view the memorial within the crematorium’s operating hours. In an effort to further show our respect to our donors, the University maintains a Book of Remembrance. The names of all of our deceased donors are inscribed into the book in the year of their death. The Book of Remembrance is securely housed within The Graduate School of Medicine building. The book is on display during the Remembrance Ceremony held at the end of each year.