Anatomic Donations in Canada

For Education and Research

ALBERTA

https://www.ualberta.ca/en/medicine/news/2014/april/anatomical-gifts-program.html

https://medicine.usask.ca/department/schools-divisions/biomed/body-bequeathal-program/

SASKATCHEWAN

https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/body-donation-program

University of Alberta, Edmonton

University of Calgary, Calgary

University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon

BRITISH COLUMBIA

https://cps.med.ubc.ca/body-donation-program/

University of British Columbia, Vancouver

MANITOBA

University of Manitoba, Winnipeg

https://umanitoba.ca/medicine/community-and-partners/body-donation-program

https://www.mcgill.ca/anatomy/anatomical-sciences/body-donor-program

NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

QUEBEC

ONTARIO

https://www.carnells.com/our-services/anatomical-gifts/

McGill University, Montreal

Queens University, Kingston

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Full body donation is a crucial aspect of health sciences education for future doctors, dentists, rehabilitation therapists, and scientists. Most full body donations are used for teaching purposes with students but some are used specifically for medical and research training.

Many Canadians today are becoming much more open to the option of donating their body to science. This openness about what death means brings with it new values, preferences, and opinions that are changing traditions and creating funeral alternatives. People want alternatives to funeral arrangements and choices concerning the final disposition of their bodies. People who donate their bodies to the medical school can be assured that all human remains are accorded the dignity and respect that our society customarily grants the dead.” Many universities host memorial ceremonies with the university community, donor families, medical staff, students, and professionals to honour the memory of our donors. The costs covered by the institutions vary, however, most programs cover the cremation or burial costs. Some programs will cover transportation costs within a limited area.

Whole body donation to science is currently the fastest growing trend among funeral alternatives. People are seeking alternatives to the traditional burial or cremation options. The option of body donation gives individuals a real way to support medical advances that impact the lives of future generations, and thus a death can be seen as giving value to the advancement of science and providing a ‘gift’ of life.

While it is important to register as an organ donor, it is equally important to talk to your next of kin about your choice to partake in organ donation as they have the final say. The same applies to full body donation; your next of kin can refuse body donation, even if you are properly registered with an academic institution. It is also recommended that you inform your primary care physician of your choice to participate in either organ or full body donation.

Academic institutions reserve the right to decline a donation for any reason, so it is recommended that you have alternative arrangements made in case of refusal.

You can be both a registered organ donor and a whole-body donor, however, if solid organ removal for transplant occurs (with the exception of corneal transplant), body donation is no longer possible.

Academic institutions do not provide autopsies or report findings to the next of kin. Age restrictions vary per academic institution.

Most academic institutions will not accept autopsied bodies. Medical conditions and/or trauma that would disqualify a donation vary per academic institution.

https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/blood-tissue-and-organ-donation/donating-your-body-to-science/program-objectives