Bequest program
Much of the detail pertaining to the body bequest program is contained in the brochure (PDF 311k) and information sheet (PDF 47k). Donors are accepted into the program from all geographical locations, but typically can only be accepted at time of death if they meet certain screening criteria and pass away within the bequest catchment area (Image 704k).
Donors are encouraged to call the body bequest officer on 07 5552 7700 during business hours if they have any questions not answered by the information documents.
Please apply online for more information.
Additional information
- Purpose of the body bequest program
- The body bequest program provides practical opportunities to study and perform research on the human body in a controlled educational environment. Donors make a vital contribution to the training of the next generation of scientists, and medical and allied health professionals. The program has been reviewed and approved by the Griffith University Human Ethics Committee, as will any research project conducted in the School of Anatomy.
- The process of donating your body
- Potential donors are requested to write to the School of Anatomy indicating they wish to donate their body to the Griffith University body bequest program. The School of Anatomy will then send a consent form and some other relevant documents. Potential donors must complete, sign and submit the consent form to the School of Anatomy. The consent form must be signed in the presence of two witnesses over the age of 18 years who are independent of the University. A statement in your Will similar to paragraph 1 of the consent form will assist in notifying your executor of your donation wishes. We recommend donors keep a copy and provide executors and senior next of kin with a copy of their completed, signed consent form. For this reason we provide a carbon (four-layered) consent form, the layers of which can be distributed easily. Please ensure the original (top copy) is forwarded to the University.
- Types of donations
- Potential donors may elect to donate their body for either a fixed term or an indefinite period. A fixed term donation can be a minimum of 3 weeks to a maximum of 3 years, after which time, if stipulated by the donor in the consent form, the ashes may be collected by the senior available next of kin. Indefinite term donations have no end date, but will be an average of five years in duration, after which time the body is cremated. Ashes of donors opting for indefinite donations are not ordinarily available for collection.
- Will the University definitely accept my body?
- Not always. Once the School of Anatomy receives your completed and signed consent form, you will be listed on the School???s confidential Register of Living Donors as a donor and the School will send you a letter confirming your acceptance into the body bequest program. As the time of death may occur many years after the consent forms are submitted, however, acceptance of a body into the program can only be confirmed after death. Unfortunately, some factors can prevent acceptance of a body by the University. The University recommends donors plan to accommodate this unfortunate situation with their next of kin.
- What to do if your contact details change
- You will need to contact us of any changes to address, next of kin or executor, a letter will be sent back confirming that we have received those changes. A note will be added to your file.
- Withdrawing from the Program
- Included in the letter sent to you by the School of Anatomy confirming your acceptance into the body bequest program is a form for you to complete should you wish to withdraw your consent at any time. You may also withdraw your participation in the program at any time by notifying the School in writing.
- When a next of kin or a family member wants to withdraw your bequest while you are still alive
- As the consent form is a legal document, family members cannot withdraw a donor from the program without their consent.
- Cost
- There is no cost to you or your estate unless you chose to contribute. If so, this should be determined on a case by case basis in consultation with the School of Anatomy. If you die outside the catchment area (see map), the School cannot fund transport of your body to our facility. In that case, if your wish is to donate regardless, those transport costs must be covered by your next of kin or estate. Please note, even if costs are covered by your estate or family, it remains necessary for the body to arrive at our facility within 2-3 days of death.
- What your family does at the time of your death
- At the time of your death, either your attending medical staff or your senior (available) next of kin must promptly notify the School of Anatomy on (07) 5552 7700 (business hours) or Metropolitan Funerals on (07) 5531 1722 (after hours). Qualified medical staff will immediately consult with staff in the School of Anatomy to determine the suitability of your remains for teaching and research purposes.
- If your body is accepted what happens immediately after your death
- Your senior (available) next of kin will be asked to give consent to the donation. Please note that if your next of kin object to the donation, the School of Anatomy will cancel the bequest. For this reason we recommend making your wishes clearly known to your next of kin. If the body is deemed acceptable for donation, with consent of your senior (available) next of kin, the School of Anatomy will make all necessary arrangements and meet all expenses in connection with the removal and transport of your body to the University by our delegated funeral director. When a donor body arrives at the School of Anatomy, an embalming process will promptly be carried out which will preserve the tissues in a sterile condition. The body will then be placed in cold storage until required, at which time it will be used for the teaching of anatomy to students and health professionals and for anatomical research activities. When educational and research activities have been completed the University will arrange for, and meet the expenses of cremation through a reputable funeral director. Your ashes will then be available for collection by your next of kin, or laid to rest in the University???s Memorial Garden. Should you wish to include a bequest in your Will to cover the costs of the above-described activities, such generosity would be gratefully received.
- Funerals and Memorial services
- Private funeral or memorial services can be held but the expense must be covered by your estate or next of kin, and it is important that the University receives your body no later than 2-3 days after your death. If your loved ones wish, they may, at their own expense or the expense of your estate, arrange for a private ceremony before your body is transferred to the School of Anatomy, or alternatively arrange for a private memorial service without your body. An annual Thanksgiving Service will be held at the University to express the University???s gratitude for donor bequests. Relatives and friends of donors, as well as students and staff of the School of Anatomy are encouraged to attend these occasions. The first is scheduled for September 2009. The venue is yet to be confirmed. Families of donors will be notified of the service and invited to attend.
- Ashes
- If you have chosen that your ashes are not to be returned to your family, your ashes will be interred in the Body Bequest Memorial Garden on Parklands campus. Refer to Head of School if you have any further questions.
- Book of Remembrance
- A book of remembrance is kept to record the names of donors who are accepted into the program and is located on display in the foyer of the anatomy facilities. It will be available for family and friends to view at the Thanksgiving Service.
- If you die outside of the catchment area
- If you do not live within the catchment area, we will still accept your bequest as it is possible you may die within the catchment area (e.g. in a hospital). If you normally live but do not die within the catchment area (e.g. on a holiday), it is possible your remains will not be able to be delivered to our facility within 2-3 days. In that case, we will not be able to accept your body at time of death. If your body can be delivered to our facility within 2-3 days, we will accept subject to the usual screening checks at time of death (see below).
- Visits to the anatomy facility
- Out of respect for our donors and issues of security, in general, members of the public do not have access to the GH1 anatomy facility. Visits by donors, however, may be approved on a case by case basis, subject to approval from the Head of School.
- If your next of kin do not agree with your donation
- At time of death, the University will contact your nominated next of kin on your consent form. If they do not approve the donation, we will not accept your body. Legally the University must abide by their wishes. For this reason we recommend making your wishes for body donation clearly known to your next of kin and resolving any issues in your lifetime. We find that most next of kin choose to respect the wishes of their loved ones at time of death.
- Circumstances that may prevent the University from accepting your donation
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Anyone over the age of 18 can be a donor; however, the following are examples of circumstances that may prevent acceptance at the time of death:
- Donor cannot be delivered to the Griffith School of Anatomy in 2-3 days of death
- Donor has donated organs at time of death
- Donor had Creutzfeldt Jacob Disease, acute dementia or other transmissible disease
- Donor has undergone or will need to undergo an autopsy
- Donor has unhealed surgical wounds or sores, including amputation.