You want to donate your body for research? What do you need to know.

As the old aphorism says, there are only two things you can be sure of in life: death and taxes. But even if death may be inevitable, it creates a number of uncertainties - for example, what to do with your body. A number of university anatomical schools around the world are implementing body donation programmes, and this practice is becoming more and more common on the African continent.

The School of Anatomical Sciences at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg (South Africa) is celebrating its centenary. Graduate student Kimberleigh Tommy met with Dr Brendon Billings to find out why people should think about leaving their bodies to science and why the way the body is donated has changed dramatically.

Why should I think about donating my body to anatomy school? And what should I do about it?

For hundreds of years, the study of anatomy has been the basis for training medical students and related medical sciences. Dentists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, doctors, pharmacists, nurses and medical scientists all have to understand the structure of the human body in order to have the skills needed to do their job properly.

Disinsection also plays an important role in educating students about death. It offers students moral and ethical education and a humanistic approach to patient care. In general, cadaver-based education prepares students intellectually and emotionally so that they can cope with the challenges they will face in their future careers.

Donated corpses are used exclusively for training and research. At first, they go through a process called perfusion. During perfusion and embalming, the blood is removed from the body and replaced with a fixer (chemical cocktail) to preserve the remains and safely dissect them for students.

What will students learn about me? Will they know my name?

Identifying a donor has ethical and legal implications, so a student or researcher will never know your name.

If additional personal information is required in connection with the research, such as your demographics or profession, the researcher will sign a confidentiality agreement that strictly prohibits the use of personal information when publishing a research manuscript, dissertation or dissertation.

What guidelines do the Department of Anatomical Sciences at the University of Witwatersand follow regarding the legal and ethical use of human remains for teaching and research?

At our school, the use of human remains for teaching and research in health care is covered by the National Health Act of the Republic of South Africa and is in line with the ethical guidelines of the International Federation of Anatomical Associations.

When can I register and can anyone make a donation on my behalf?

At Wits you can register to donate your remains at any time during your lifetime, or your family can donate your remains as a next of kin donor. Although self donation is preferred, many bodies are donated by families after death. One of the reasons for donating next of kin is because a family member's request is financially limited (the school does not pay for the donation, but covers the cost of cremation after research and training).

Do I have to document my donation in a will?

It is desirable to add an addition to the will. However, this is not necessary if you fill out an application form for donor status from the relevant institution that acts as a will or codicil and contains your wishes.

Will my family receive money for a donation?

All donations are altruistic. Our school cannot pay a donor or family money for a donation.

Can my family still give me a funeral if I donate my body?

Yes. In some cases, families have asked for embalmed remains for a memorial service. Then the embalmed body goes back to school for teaching and research.

And when this teaching and research is completed, will my remains be returned to my family? If so, when?

The return of mortal remains to the family is voluntary. The donor may request the return of the remains of the family once the dismemberment has been completed and the remains have been cremated - cremation is paid for by the school. Alternatively, donors can donate their bodies indefinitely to the school.

Can I make a donation if I am an organ donor?

Yes, you can be an organ donor as well as a body donor - but there are some caveats. If it turns out that your organs are not suitable for organ donation, we will accept organ donation. For our special program, we need an entire body; if some organs have been removed and an open wound left, the perfusion process necessary for embalming the corpses will be disrupted.

Do I need to get a medical report or disclose diseases such as HIV?

Our school has a list of infectious diseases that prevent a person from donating their remains. These exceptions are listed in the information sheets for corpse donors. You are not required to disclose your HIV status if you plan to donate your body to our school's body donation programme.

Does my cause of death matter?

Yes, it does. Road traffic accidents, murders and suicides or other cases that require autopsies are handled by the public funeral services, not the school. In such cases, the school cannot accept a donated body.

Who will process my death certificate in the South African Department of Home Affairs?

We're like a school.

So, if I decide that your school's program is the one I want to donate my body to, should I live in Johannesburg?

Most donations are within a 300 km radius of the University of the Wits, but people living in the wider province of Gauteng can also make a donation to the school. Exceptions can be made if a family is willing to move a body to a site within a given distance. It is worth checking the geographical exclusions and requirements for other schools if you want to make a donation to another program.