Bequeathals / donating your body

Keele University School of Medicine, UK will train over 6,000 doctors and over 12,000 other health workers in the next half century in its state-of-the-art facilities at Keele University campus and the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in Stoke-on-Trent. The Surgical Training Suite was opened at the School of Medicine in 2013, which has widened the scope of the training and provides enhanced facilities for surgeons and extends the number of medical professionals that we are able to assist in their continued professional development.

How can you help?

Medical science is very grateful to those benevolent individuals who bequeath their bodies for use after their deaths to help doctors and other health scientists to learn the intricacies of the human body, prepare for clinical practice, and carry out medical research. All donations are covered by the Human Tissue Act (2004) and are subject to regulation by the HTA (Human Tissue Authority).

BBC Radio 4 - Give My Body to Science - Joan Bakewell and her panel ask why so many people donate their bodies to science and what happens if you do (may require BBC account sign in).

Bereavement Advice Centre - Whole Body donation information

Holders of organ donor cards

If you carry a donor card, you can still bequeath your body. However, if your organs are removed for transplantation at the time of death this would preclude acceptance of the bequeathal. However, you can donate the corneas of your eyes and still donate your body.

Any questions? Please visit the Human Tissue Authority's FAQ web page.

Book of Remembrance

The names of all of our donors are recorded in our Book of Remembrance, which can be viewed online.

Enquiries

Bequeathals Office
School of Medicine
Anatomy Facility
Keele University
Staffordshire
ST5 5BG

Tel: +44 (0)1782 734690
Email: anatomy@keele.ac.uk

How we will use personal data

Keele University will be the data controller responsible for looking after and processing the personal data we collect via the ‘Consent Form’. We will process this data to administer your donation request as part of the University’s public task to provide teaching, learning and research facilities, and as part of our license from the Human Tissue Authority. This data will be stored on a secure database on the University’s computer servers and will not be shared with any other organisation unless we are required to do so by law. We will keep this data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

If we are unable to accept a donation or you withdraw your donation, we will remove the data as appropriate.

You have a number of rights with respect to how we process your personal data. More information on these rights is available from the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) website, and on the University's information governance web page. For any queries regarding the bequest process please contact the Anatomy Office (telephone +44 (0)1782 734690 or +44 (0)1782 733936). If you have concerns regarding how we deal with your data please contact the University's Data Protection Officer.

Online Forms: PDFs

Donor forms and information can be downloaded below. When completed please send them to the above address. Please forward form KF004b (consent form), and retain KF003 (bequest booklet).

KF002 Donating body form (144 KB)