Put your body to work
SCHOOL OF ANATOMY: OPEN TO DONATIONS WITHIN 300KM OF WITS
Medical students have to work on human cadavers to gain full understanding.
As the old aphorism has it, only two things are certain in life: death, and taxes. But while death may be inevitable, it does throw up a number of uncertainties – like what should be done with your body. A number of university anatomy schools globally run body donation programmes, and this is becoming more common in Africa.
The University of the Witwatersrand’s School of Anatomical Sciences in Johannesburg is celebrating its centennial year. PhD student Kimberleigh Tommy talks to Dr Brendon Billings to find out why people should consider leaving their body to science and the huge shifts in how body donation works.
Why should I consider donating my body to an anatomy school? And what will be done with it? The study of anatomy has been the foundation for training medical and allied health sciences students for hundreds of years. They need to understand the structure of the human body.
Dissection also plays an important role in introducing students to death.
Donated bodies are strictly used for teaching and research. They first undergo a process called perfusion to remove blood and replace it with a fixative to preserve the remains and make them safe for dissection.
What will the students be told about me? Will they know my name? A student or researcher is never told your name. In research, if more personal details are needed – like demographics or occupation – then the researcher signs a non-disclosure agreement which prohibits the use of any personal details in publications.
Which guidelines are followed at Wits’ School of Anatomical Sciences in terms of legal and ethical use of human remains for teaching and research? The use of human cadavers for training students falls under the National Health Act and follows the ethical guidelines of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomy. When do I sign up and can someone donate on my behalf? At Wits, you can register to donate your body during your life or your family may donate it as a next of kin donor.
Do I need to document my donation in a will? Adding a codicil to a will is encouraged, but it’s not required if you complete the school’s body donor registration form, which acts as a will indicating your wishes.
Does my family receive money for the donation? Our school cannot pay the donor or family for the donation.
Can my family still have a funeral for me if I am donating my body? Yes. In certain instances, families have requested the embalmed remains for a memorial ceremony.
Once teaching and research is done, will my remains be given back to my family? The donor may request for their remains to be returned to the family after dissection has been completed. Or donors can donate their bodies indefinitely.
Can I donate if I’m an organ donor? Yes, if your organs are not suitable for donation then we accept the body. We need a full body.
Do I need to get medical clearance or disclose any diseases like HIV? Our school has a list of communicable diseases that excludes a body donation. You do not have to disclose your HIV status for our school.
Does my cause of death matter? Yes. Car accidents, homicides and suicides or any case that requires an autopsy will be addressed by the state mortuary. In such instances the donated body cannot be accepted by the school.
A student or researcher is never told your name
Who processes my death certificate with the department of home affairs? We do, as the school.
If I decide to donate my body to your school, do I have to live in Johannesburg? Most donations are within 300km of Wits, but the family can transport the body to an area within that distance.
Brendon Kurt Billings: lecturer/ curator, Wits University
Kimberleigh Ashley Tommy: PhD candidate Wits University – Republished from TheConversation.com