1.  What are the advantages of registering with the Body Donation Program?

When a death occurs, your next of kin is legally responsible for your remains.  Having your written consent on file will help your family decide what to do next during a very stressful time for them.  As a member of the program, it is our hope you will have already discussed your wishes with your family and have their support.  In the event a next-of-kin were to object to the donation, your wishes may not be carried out. 

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2.  Can next-of-kin or an executor authorize for donation for a deceased person who has not previously registered to the Body Donation Program?

Yes, any person who legally has custody of your body and is over the age of 18 years may make the donation.  However, it is preferred to have the donor’s signed consent on file indicating their willingness to participate in our program.

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3.  Is there an age restriction?

No.  Anyone over the age of 18 years is eligible to donate their body.

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4.  Can I change my mind regarding donation of my body?

Yes, you may change your mind at any time regarding your donation. Please let your loved ones know of your final decision, and ask that they honour your wishes.  As well, you may wish to contact the Body Donation Program to inform them of the changes.

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5.  Can my family count on my remains being accepted by the program when I die or do I need to consider other alternatives?

The Faculty of Medicine greatly appreciates everyone who is willing to donate their remains. But there are instances where we will be unable to accept the donation. It is much less stressful for your family if you work with them to lay the groundwork for alternative plans. Our staff coordinators are knowledgeable in this area and would be happy to discuss the alternatives with you or your family at any time.

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6.  Could you be more specific about what instances might cause my remains to not be accepted into the program at the time of death, even if I have signed up for the Body Donation Program?

We undertake an extensive embalming process, which far exceeds that performed by funeral homes. We do this to insure that we can continue to use the body for teaching over an extended period of time, which can run upwards to six years or more in some cases.  As a result, the condition of the body at the time of death, the circumstances leading up to the death and previous case histories are all important considerations in deciding whether a donation is to be accepted. 

Examples of specific conditions which would make a donation unacceptable are:

• A body upon which an autopsy has been scheduled for or already performed.
• A body which has already been embalmed.
• A body where death has occurred outside our service area.
• Space limitation in the anatomy facilities.
• If organs and / or tissues have been removed for transplantation. The sole exception is the eyes – we will accept bodies from which the corneas have been donated.
• Donors under the age of 18 years.
• Deterioration of the body; more than 3 days post death if a body has been refrigerated.
• Deterioration of the body; more than 1 day post death if a body has not been refrigerated.
• In cases where family are in disagreement with the donation.
• Neurological Diseases (i.e. C.J.D.).
• Contagious diseases (i.e. Hepatitis A, B & C, Septicemia, Bacterial Meningitis, A.I.D.S. /H.I.V., Tuberculosis, Gangrene, M.R.S.A.).
• Malignancies (i.e. metastatic cancer).
• Recent Internal Surgery (within 3 weeks).
• Ruptured aneurysm.
• Extensive internal pathology, numerous past surgeries, organ or tissue removal.
• Major amputations.
• Major deformities or severe limb contracture.
• Severe burns or tissue damage (within 1 month of death). 
• Death by accident involving major trauma, or by suicide.
• Extreme emaciation.
• Extreme size relative to one’s height or weights exceeding 175 lbs. 

However occasionally, we do get specific requests from researchers for donations that under normal circumstances would not ordinarily be suitable for our teaching program.

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7.  I have cancer and upon my death wish to donate my body to further the cause of cancer research but have heard that my body may not be acceptable.  I would think that my body would be of great benefit to research?

The primary focus in accepting donations into our program is in teaching normal anatomy of the human body not pathology. Contrary to public opinion regarding the nature of medical research, researchers unfortunately do not have legal access to confidential case histories of donors nor do they have in most cases, the need to study diseased tissue to further their particular research endeavours.

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8.  My relative has a rare disease and we are wondering if they donate their body, will we get some kind of report as to the nature or extent of the disease?

Again, our primary focus is in teaching normal anatomy of the human body and so we are unable to provide that kind of service.  Families wishing to gain more knowledge about their family member’s illness or condition may wish to seek an autopsy which can be arranged through their family doctor and the Department of Pathology at the Foothills Hospital which specializes in this area.

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9.  When a death occurs of a potential donor who should the family, caregiver or next-of-kin call?

Yes, when the death occurs you should contact the university’s coordinator on call at 403-220-6950 (24 hours, 7 days/week).  If you do not reach us directly, please leave a message with our answering service and we will call you back A.S.A.P.

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10.  In the case of a pending death, can the family phone ahead to see if the donation is likely to be accepted?

Yes.  In the event of a pending death, you can call 403-220-6950 (24 hours, 7 days/week) to discuss the circumstances with us.  If you do not reach us directly, please leave a message with our answering service and we will return your call.

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11.  When would we normally find out if a donation will be accepted?

Unless the family has previously called prior to the death to see if the donor is indeed a likely candidate, the decision to accept will generally be given after discussing the case with the physician, caregiver or next of kin at the time of death.

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12.  What does the hospital or care center need to do when a death occurs regarding a potential donor?

If the body has been accepted, the body should be prepared in the same fashion as would be done for a funeral home including documentation.   The university will also make the necessary arrangements for transportation of the body to the university.

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13.  What if death occurs outside of Calgary?

The boundaries of the University of Calgary’s service area for accepting donations are: north to Red Deer, south to U.S.A. border, east to Saskatchewan border and west to B.C. border.  If a death occurs outside our service area please be aware that we may not be able to accept the donation.

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14.  What expenses if any are involved upon the death of a donor?

The expenses incurred in transporting the body to the University of Calgary, up to a maximum of $250.00, will be borne by the university, as will the expenses for cremation and interment of the cremated remains in the university plot at Queen’s Park Cemetery.  Cost for transportation beyond the $250.00 limit will be the responsibility of the family, next-of-kin or executor of the deceased.

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15.  What role does the funeral home serve in the donation of a body?

If a death occurred outside the city, a funeral home may be requested by the Faculty of Medicine to transport the body to the university.  Unless the family is planning on using the services of the same funeral home for arranging a memorial service, there would be no reason in contacting them.  Upon acceptance, the University of Calgary is responsible for obtaining from the next-of-kin the required documentation for death registration, permission to cremation and body donation.  As well, it is the university’s responsibility to forward to the executor or next-of-kin a Funeral Director’s Statement of death often required in order to settle the donor’s estate.

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16.  Who can give consent, after my death has occurred?

The executor named in your will has the ultimate authority to consent to the donation of a body. In the event that you leave no will, your legal next-of-kin has the authority to donate your body so long as everyone one in the immediate family was in agreement.

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17.  What’s the difference between whole body donation and organ / or tissue donation?

Whole body donation is when you give your body to medical education or science for teaching purposes.  Organ and tissue donation is when you give your organs and or tissues to be transplanted into someone that needs them.

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18.  I would like to donate my organs and tissues for transplant purposes and then have the rest of my body sent to the Faculty of Medicine, is this possible?

Unfortunately, the removal of internal organs and tissues (i.e. excluding cornea & sclera from the eyes) prior to embalming, makes your body unsuitable for our educational needs. In general, our program is not in conflict with the various organ and tissue transplant programs. Joining our program is not in any way, a legal contract; rather it is a letter of intent, directed to the next-of-kin. Therefore, it is not a problem for an individual to request their next-of-kin to first investigate the organ and tissue donation route at the time of death and, then, if the organs and tissues are not accepted, your family can contact us to inquire about the possibility of donation to medical science.

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19.  How can we get more information about organ and tissue donation?

For further information, please contact the nursing coordinator with the H.O.P.E. Program at 403-944-8700.

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20.  If I give my body to the University of Calgary, what will happen to my body after many months or years of study? 

Depending on how the body is to be utilized, it can be in our care anywhere from several months up to six years or more.  Afterwards, the remains are cremated and returned to the university in preparation for final disposition as previously arranged with the next-of-kin.

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21.  Are my remains given back to my family?

Yes, if that’s the family’s wish.  Changes however, can be made at anytime prior to final disposition.

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22.  How does the university prepare the bodies for burial and or cremation?

The bodies are cremated separately and the cremated remains are placed into individual temporary urns for either mass burial in the university plot or returned to the family for private disposition.

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23.  How does the university contact us regarding the memorial service or to pick up the cremated remains if we have moved?

Contact with family members or executors are made with phone calls and/or registered letters based on the information gathered at the time of the arrangements.  It is the responsibility of the executor or next-of-kin to inform us of any changes to their contact information.

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24.  What happens with the cremated remains if the family can not be contacted?

In cases where families have not maintained updated contact information we will hold the cremated remains for a period of one year after cremation and will inter the cremated remains in the university plot at the next available memorial service.

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25.  Is there any commemoration plaque, or marker with the individual names of those who gave their body to science?  If not, is this an option for family members to have installed?        

There is a single granite marker for the University of Calgary section in the cemetery but there are no individual names inscribed.  Unfortunately in these plots, it is not possible to have individual markers installed.  You may wish to contact the cemetery office and make inquiries into other possible forms of memorialization (i.e. tree planting or park benches etc.).

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26.  How would my privacy be protected?

We take great pains to protect the privacy and dignity of all bodies that are donated.  Students and researchers are only given the age, gender and cause of death of a body if it’s deemed necessary for their studies.

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27.  Can I be assured that my remains will be handled properly?

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