Donation Process
Notification at the time of death: It is imperative to notify the Body Donation Program of a passing as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours. We must receive the body within 72 hours from the time of death. While registration with the program in advance is encouraged, it is not required for a donation to take place.
A representative of the program is available 24/7 and can be reached by contacting 403-220-6950 and selecting option #1. If the call is time-sensitive, our contracted funeral service provider, Prairie Rose Cremation & Funeral Services, can be reached directly at 403-216-5111.
General Inquiries can be directed to 403-220-6950, option #2 or 403-220-6895, or via email at anatomy@ucalgary.ca
Acceptance into the Program:
At the time of death notification, a brief questionnaire will be completed to confirm eligibility, and relevant medical history will be reviewed with the authorized representative or attending medical professionals to ensure the donation meets Program criteria.
According to current Alberta legislation, consent for donation may be provided by the following individuals, in priority order:
- Adult deceased person if they legally authorized their donation prior to their death
- The executor appointed by the deceased
- The spouse or adult interdependent partner of the person if they are not estranged
- An adult child of the person
- A parent or guardian of the person
- An adult sibling of the person
- Any other adult next of kin of the person.
In the case consent has not been legally authorized by a potential donor prior to their death adult next-of-kin may provide consent as long as:
- A person in a higher priority class is not readily available to provide a consent;
- A person in the same class would not refuse to give a consent;
- The deceased person would not have refused to give a consent.
If the donation is accepted, the Body Donation Program will arrange transportation of the donor into our care. If the donation is declined, the authorized representative will be responsible for making alternate arrangements.
Eligibility for body donation is determined at the time of death, similar to organ donation. While we greatly appreciate the generosity of all individuals who register for the program, acceptance cannot be guaranteed in advance. For more information on eligibility, please review the program’s exclusion criteria.
After Acceptance:
After an individual has been accepted into the Body Donation Program, the executor or next of kin will be required to complete documents related to body donation. For convenience, we can send electronic copies via email or fax or can meet directly with the authorized representative at the UCalgary Foothills campus.Death certificates will also be provided for estate settlement.
Generally, a donor’s participation in the program can last anywhere from a few weeks to six years or more. The length and type of study is dependent on the current needs of our program and the suitability of the donors for each learning session.
Following Completion of Study
Upon completion of the study, the program covers the cost of cremation and, if requested at the time of donation, interment in the UCalgary cemetery plot at Queen’s Park cemetery. The authorized representative will be notified by mail regarding the date, time, and location of interment if they have requested to be informed of this information.
Authorized representatives may also choose to claim their loved one’s cremated remains for private disposition. In such cases, any associated expenses are the responsibility of the family or estate.
All donors are honoured during the memorial service, including those whose cremated remains have been collected for private disposition. We warmly welcome all family members and loved ones to join us in celebrating and remembering those who made the generous gift of body donation.
Resources
We understand that end of life planning and bereavement is a difficult topic for both the individual doing the planning as well as their loved ones left behind. The following resources may be of use to individuals going through end of life preparations.