l   Our Program   l   Acceptability of Donors   l   How to Donate   l  

Our Program

The primary function of the Body Donation Program at the University of Calgary is to provide specimens to the undergraduate medical program for the purpose of teaching normal human anatomy.  The majority of our donations are used in this manner.

A second way in which a donation can be utilized is through our medical research program.  Note that this type of research is researcher specific.  By this we mean, that our affiliated researchers DO NOT necessarily study specific pathologies or the causes of death of our donors.  Much of this research is orthopedic in nature.

Generally studies can take anywhere from a few weeks to six years or more.  The length and type of study is dependent on the current needs of our program and the suitability of the donors.  Thus, at the time of arrangements we are unable to predict how long a donation might be used.

Upon completion of study, the University of Calgary will have your body cremated.  The expenses of cremation, interment in the University of Calgary cemetery plot, and transportation of the body to the Faculty of Medicine (to a maximum of $250.00) will be borne by the university.  The executor or the next of kin will be initially notified by mail, at the address provided during arrangements regarding the time and place of interment only if requested at the time of donation.  Relatives who wish to claim the cremated remains for private interment may do so, but in these cases, expenses of interment must be borne by the relatives or the estate of the deceased.

Every two years, the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary organizes a graveside commemorative service for the family members and friends of those who have chosen to donate their bodies for medical study.  The location of the burial site for the cremated remains is found just off the north entrance (on 40th Avenue N.W.) to Queen’s Park Cemetery (Office: 3219 – 4th Street N.W. Calgary, AB).

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Acceptability of Donors

While the Faculty of Medicine gratefully acknowledges the generosity of all our potential donors, you, your executor, and your next of kin should be aware that the Faculty of Medicine may not be able to accept a donation for reasons that include but are not limited to the following:
a) If an autopsy has been performed
b) If cavity embalming was done by a funeral home (the University of Calgary has a special technique for embalming)
c) If death was caused by disease or accident of such nature as to make medical study impossible
d) Excessive weight
e) Communicable disease
f) If death occurs outside the University of Calgary’s services area.  The boundaries are north to Red Deer, South to the U.S.A. border, east to Saskatchewan border, and west to the B.C. border.  In the event death occurs outside these boundaries, please contact the nearest medical school.

Please note that the reasons listed above are general guidelines.  Depending on the needs of our program, there are times that we might accept donations that we normally wouldn't.  It is our recommendation that upon your death your executor or next-of-kin should ALWAYS contact us to determine if we can accept your donation.

For further information on specific details regarding the acceptability of donors see Question 6 in our FAQs section.

When a donation cannot be used, we have no legal obligation to accept the donation.  In the event we are unable to accept a donation, we suggest that you provide an alternative arrangement with your family for the final disposition of your body at the same time as registering for donation to the university.

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How to Donate

1.  Register with our program

Should you decide to donate your body, we ask that you please register with our program by completing and returning the registration form.  Once registered, you will receive a registration card acknowledging your intent to donate.  We recommend that you keep this card along with your Alberta Health Card, so that your wish to donate your body to the Faculty of Medicine will become known at the proper time.  We also ask that you complete Sections A & B and give them to your executor or next of kin.  These documents will assist us at the time of arrangements following your death. 

To summarize, follow the instructions below:

1) Complete Registration Form and send to the address listed below.  When we receive this form we will mail you your registration card.

Body Donation Program,
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy
Faculty of Medicine
University of Calgary
3330 Hospital Drive N.W.
Calgary, Alberta  T2N 4N1

2) Complete Section A and have it witnessed by executor or next of kin.
3) Complete Section B.
4) Ensure that Sections A and B are given to the executor or next of kin.
5) Arrange for an alternate plan for the disposition of your body in the event the university is unable to accept your body.

2.  Make your wishes known

If you wish to donate your body to the Body Donation Program at the University of Calgary, it may be prudent to inform your lawyer of your intent and insert the following statement into your will: “I direct that, upon my death, my body be delivered to the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary (or to the nearest medical school) to be used for medical education and research.”

Please be aware that including the above statement in your will may not ensure that your wishes to donate can be carried out for the following reasons:

(1) The Faculty of Medicine may not be able to accept a donation as explained in the section above.

(2) Burial or cremation often takes place before the will is read.

Therefore, we strongly recommend that you tell your next-of-kin and your executor of your wish during your lifetime.  Again, it is important to note that being registered with the Body Donation Program only indicates your desire to donate and not that acceptance into the program will be guaranteed (see Acceptability of Donors).

 
3. Arrangements at the time of death

At the time of your death, your executor or next of kin should arrange for delivery of your body and for signing the necessary papers by telephoning the University of Calgary at (403) 220-6950, day or night, and asking for the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy.  In addition, prior to coming in to the university to complete the arrangements, locate sections A & B and bring the documents to the arrangement conference.

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