Body donation

Overview
Body donation is the donation of the whole body after death for medical research and education. For years, only medical schools accepted whole bodies for donation. Only the legal next-of-kin(s) of the deceased can provide the necessary consent for donation if the donor did not provide it to the specific accepting program prior to death.

Body donation is useful for understanding the human body and for advancing science. Medical schools will cover the cost of cremation or burial once the cadaver has served its medical purpose and is returned to the family for interment. Any person wishing to donate their body may be required to make prior arrangements with the local medical school or university before death. These organizations use whole embalmed bodies to teach anatomy to medical students. Individuals may request a consent form and will supply information about policies and procedures that will take place after the potential donor is deceased. Body donation is legally available with the consent of the individual prior to death or the legal next of kin after death.

Body donation is not regulated through licensure and inspection by the federal government and most states. The legal right for an individual to choose body donation is governed by the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act which has been largely adopted by most states. Laws relating to the transportation and disposition of human bodies apply.

Body donation in the UK
Body donation in the UK is governed by the Human Tissue Authority under the auspices of the Human Tissue Act 2004. The HTA licenses and inspects establishments, such as medical schools, which teach anatomy using donated bodies. Under the Human Tissue Act, written consent must be given prior to death; consent cannot be given by anyone else after death.

Links

 * List of Body Donation Programs in the United States
 * Silent Mentors in Taiwan
 * An Analysis of Tzu Chi’s Public Communication Campaign on Body Donation
 * 'Silent mentors' inspire Taiwan's medical students

Körperspende 献体 全身捐赠