People who donate bodies to science may be rejected, family finds

Amid the grief and uncertainty of losing her father the day after Christmas, Heather Gray knew at least one thing for sure.

Her dad had always been adamant that his body would be donated to science and, a year before he died, he had filled out the form, told his loved ones and even informed the palliative care staff who were looking after him in his final days.

No one told him, though, that body donations can be rejected. Gray, along with her siblings, was left to figure out what to do with their father’s body after his preferred option wasn’t possible and he hadn’t told anyone his second choice.

“Our family just feels like it’s not right; the word needs to get out there,” said Gray.

Gray’s sister finally got in touch with the person who preserves bodies for the University of Alberta Anatomical Gifts Program, and he explained that her dad’s cancer was so widespread that the preservatives wouldn’t penetrate the body tissue.

“It was very difficult for that guy to be dealing with families and he said it happens all the time,” said Gray. “That shouldn’t be happening. People should know that when they sign up.”

In the fall of 2016, Alberta Health updated the form to provide more information and direct people to experts who can tell them if their request is likely to be fulfilled. Gray worries that other families will be left trying to figure out what their loved one would have wanted. She said an Alberta Health official told her there were about 9,000 people who filled out the old consent form and may not even know that it’s possible their request will be rejected.

In a statement to Postmedia, Alberta Health apologized for the confusion and said officials are in the process of contacting registrants.

Anyone who filled out the old form can contact the U of A’s Anatomical Gifts Program or the University of Calgary’s Body Donation Program to get a sense of whether their request is likely to be fulfilled or get more information about the program.

Although Gray’s dad’s palliative care doctor and the nurses were aware of his desire for a body donation, they seemed unaware that metastatic cancer was likely to mean that request would be rejected. Gray wants to see an information campaign for health workers so they can better advise their patients about the program.

For now, Gray just wants to help families avoid these complications while they’re grieving.

“Always make an alternate plan known to your family, just in case,” she said.