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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
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Who may serve as a witness to my donation?
Any person 18 years or older, preferably someone expected to survive you, may act as a witness. Two witness signatures are required on our donation forms.
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Can I donate someone else's body, such as my wife's or my husband's?
A solicitor (or the person who has legally been given power of attorney) for the donor is able to sign donation papers during the donors’ life. Alternately, a spouse or registered domestic partner can make a donation after death.
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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 Faculty of Health and Behavioural Science of The University of Wollongong and the removal of tissue from my body to be used for medical or scientific purposes and I confirm that my wish and that consent has not been withdrawn or revoked by me.”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.
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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 4111. Arrangements will then be made to receive the body into our programme.
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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 avoid all funeral expenses.
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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.
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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 should notify the Body Donation Programme as soon as possible by calling (02) 4221 4111 or (02) 4221 4342. If the call is made outside office hours, the caller will be directed to the mobile phone of the Body Donation Programme coordinator. If your body is deemed suitable and the donation accepted, the body will be collected and transported either by our Funeral Director or one of your family’s choice – at no cost to your next of kin.
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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.
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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 100km radius of the main Wollongong campus. Should death occur outside the 100km 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 is the cost of the Death Certificate.
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Is it possible for an ambulance service, or even my family, to deliver my body to the University?
No, 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.
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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 Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), dementia, or certain other communicable diseases (hepatitis, AIDS/HIV, tuberculosis) or antibiotic resistant bacterial infections such as MRSA,
- cannot be transferred to the University within 48 hours of death.
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.
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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.
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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 medical sciences. Some bodies are used for research to advance our medical knowledge or to study new operative techniques etc.
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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 so useful for teaching and research purposes, that it is desirable to preserve it so that many groups of students may study it. Such a specimen may be "preserved" so that it may be used over and over without deterioration.
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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 utilized in anatomical research, scientific reports will be published in appropriate scientific journals. However, at all times your particular results will remain anonymous.
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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.
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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 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.
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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. Visitors are welcome to view the memorial within the crematorium’s operating hours.
