Body donations

In order for your body to be accepted into the program, you must:

• be 18 years old or over. There is no upper age limit.
• have died within New South Wales.

Determining whether your body can be accepted for donation can only be made at the time of your death, as the cause of death may render the donation unusable for study.

A donation may not be accepted if:

• certain medical circumstances make it ineligible, including if:
  • you have certain communicable diseases eg all strains of hepatitis, AIDS/HIV, tuberculosis, or antibiotic resistant bacterial infections such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
  • you have Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (VCJD) or rapid onset dementia of undetermined nature
  • you resided in the UK between 1980 and 1996 for a total (cumulative) time of six months or more
  • you received blood transfusions in the UK since 1 January 1980
  • the body cannot be transferred to the University within 48 hours of death
  • it is unsuitable for various other reasons eg severe obesity (more than 100kg) or emaciation (less than 40kg), or tissue deterioration.
• there is insufficient space within the anatomy facility for the correct storage of your body
• any of your next of kin object
• Macquarie University determines it is ineligible for any other reason.

Anatomical examination is the study of human anatomy for medical or scientific purposes and includes research, training and education. This may involve examination of the exterior and interior parts of your body.

To examine the interior parts, your body will be dissected using surgical instruments. This may involve:

• the removal of the skin
• the opening of the various cavities of the body
• the opening of the skull to allow examination of the brain
• the removal of limbs or tissue.

All such procedures are performed by highly skilled anatomy staff, medical professionals or students under supervision. Student anatomical examinations are designed to provide surgical experience and training to future doctors and medical professionals.

Macquarie University also provides services to internal and external organisations and other entities (such as Macquarie University Private Hospital and private and public companies) for the purpose of research, development, testing and evaluation (RDT&E), education and training. Such services include:

• education of medical professionals
• development of new surgical techniques
• collection of tissue for examination and research
• development of new medical treatments
• testing of current and new medical devices and imaging techniques.

RDT&E, education and training may be sponsored by commercial companies, the proceeds of which are invested back into research and medical training programs at Macquarie University.

Your senior available next of kin can donate your body after your death even if your consent was not given in writing during your lifetime. The ‘senior available next of kin’ is defined in the Anatomy Act 1977 (NSW) and is the person at the top of an established hierarchy:

1. a spouse
2. offspring over the age of eighteen years
3. a parent
4. a sibling over the age of eighteen years.

The senior available next of kin will need to establish that you had not expressed any objection to the anatomical examination of your body during your lifetime.

The registration process requires you to specify the details of your senior available next of kin and executor. If you do not have a next of kin or executor, you can contact the NSW Trustee and Guardian, who can be assigned as your executor. Learn more from the government website.

We encourage you to remain a registered organ donor as your donation may save another person’s life. After organ donation, Macquarie University may still accept your body.

New South Wales laws require a licensed funeral director to conduct all body transportations to Macquarie University. Bodies must be transported in a professional and ethical manner in vehicles equipped with proper mortuary transportation systems.

While most bodies are retained for only a few months, Macquarie University is legally allowed to hold your body for four years from your date of death. We may apply to the NSW Ministry of Health for an extension of the retention period up to an additional four years. Macquarie University will dispose of your body at a time no longer than eight years from your date of death.

When Macquarie University has completed its anatomical examination (which may take up to eight years), your next of kin will be informed that your body is ready for disposal, unless requested otherwise.

No payment may be made by Macquarie University to you, your estate, designated responsible party or survivors in connection with your body donation. However, by donating your body you are exempted from all cremation expenses.

Cremation

In case of cremation, Macquarie University will make all arrangements for cremation in accordance with your wishes (except for any tissue blocks or slides for microscopic examination that may be permanently retained or if you have consented to the permanent retention of tissue by Macquarie University). Costs of cremation will be solely borne by Macquarie University.

Burial

Macquarie University will not cover the cost of memorial services or burials.

Costs associated with burial and any memorial services will be a private arrangement between your next of kin and the provider of the service. In the case of burial, Macquarie University requests that donors purchase a pre-paid plot of their choice.