Anatomy Department University of Dublin Trinity College Dublin 2.

Transcription

1 Anatomy Department University of Dublin Trinity College Dublin 2. Donation of remains to Medical Science. Information for Donors And their Families.

2 University of Dublin ANATOMY DEPARTMENT Trinity College Information for donors and families regarding Donation of remains to Medical Science 1. No special legal formalities on the part of the donor are necessary. A simple form is supplied, which merely expresses the intention to make the bequest. The Donor must sign this form and have it witnessed by their next-of-kin. 2. The wish does not have to appear in a Will. 3. The Christian churches in Ireland have no objections to the donation of remains to medical science. 4. For preservation, the remains must be received in a suitable condition. See Page 3.. Reasons why a donated body may be declined. 5. The Department should receive the remains as soon as possible, within twenty four to forty eight hours. 6. If desired a church service /ceremony may be held, either immediately following death, with the remains present, or at a later date, in the Donor's own church or place of worship, without the presence of the remains. 7. Burial, as by law, takes place in the normal manner and in accordance with the burial rites of the religion of the deceased. (See point17 for more details) The next-of-kin will be contacted six months before burial or cremation is due to take place to assist in making the arrangements. 8. If requested, burial can take place at a designated family plot (See point 17.3). All arrangements are carried out in an exemplary and dignified manner. The only difference from the usual procedure is the delay between death and burial. 2

3 Reasons why a donated body may be declined It is unusual for a donation to be declined, however, depending upon certain medical and legal restrictions and the needs of The Body Donation Program, there are times when a donation is refused. Having your details on file with our program is necessary but does not guarantee acceptance of your body at the time of death. Determination of the acceptability of a body for donation can only be made at the time of death; since the cause of death may render the donation unsuitable for anatomical study. There are various reasons why a donation may be declined: If a post-mortem (autopsy) takes place we cannot accept the remains. A post-mortem usually takes place if a death is sudden, unexplained or at the request of a coroner. If the donor remains are not received within the 48 hour time frame, this may cause difficulties with preservation and result in us declining the remains. Trauma or extensive burns. Infectious or contagious diseases that would pose a health risk to staff and students, such as: Hepatitis B/C, Tuberculosis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and other infectious diseases. Organ Donors: If you are an organ donor and your organs are used for transplant, whole body donation is not possible. Obesity or emaciation. Diseases which may prevent preservation of the remains. Space limitations in the Body Donation Program. We make every effort to avoid keeping the donor remains for more than 3 years as we understand this may prolong the grieving process for the family. To avoid undue grief and disappointment, you and your family should be aware of the reasons why a donation may be declined and be prepared to make alternative arrangements. 3

4 10. Who to contact. when a donor dies? When a donor dies, the family should contact the Anatomy Department, TCD or Corrigan and Sons Funeral Directors, see contact numbers below. Once the family make contact with us we check our files to ensure: 1. The donor is registered 2. We can accommodate the donor remains. When this is confirmed, Corrigan and Sons will liaise with the family to make arrangements for removal of the donor remains to Trinity College. As there are time constraints, normally the family will gather at the place of death (for prayers or time together) prior to the remains being removed. If time allows, it may be possible for the remains to be present at a funeral, after which the coffin will be removed to the college. Usually it is not possible for the remains to be present at a funeral, therefore families tend to organise a memorial or remembrance event, such as a service, mass or celebration, some time after the death. If required, Corrigan & Sons Funeral Directors can assist you in placing a death notice or memorial notice in the newspapers. Contact Details Monday - Friday Anatomy Department, Trinity College, Dublin am pm Phone: / or Mon to Fri after 5pm Corrigan & Sons Funeral Directors Weekends 5, Lower Camden Street, D8. Bank & Public Holidays Phone: What happens once the College receives the remains? When we receive the donor, we examine the body to ensure it is suitable for education and research purposes. Once the examination is completed, we contact the family within a few hours of receipt of the donor remains, to let them know whether or not we can accept the remains. It is unusual for us not to be able to facilitate the donation, but regrettably there are times when we have to decline donor remains (see page 3). 12. Will the family hear from the College again? Yes. We will write to the family a few days after we receive the remains, to offer our condolences and to ensure you have the correct contact information. At this time we let you know about the next Act of Remembrance and supply information about burial/ cremation. Please note: No formal report pertaining to our studies is issued to families. 4

5 13. What happens if the donation is declined? We recognise that family members and next of kin may be upset and offended if the donor remains are not accepted by the college. Please understand that the circumstances at the time of death dictate whether or not we can accept the remains. It is important to emphasise to your family and next of kin that funeral arrangements will need to be put in place, should the remains not be suitable for medical examination and research. If the remains are declined, our undertakers, if requested, will liaise with the family and assist them in making funeral arrangements. 14. What happens if the donation is accepted? The remains are preserved and stored in our mortuary facility. Each academic year, Health science students studying Medicine, Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Radiation Therapy, Clinical Speech and Language Studies, and Occupational Therapy are taught Anatomy using the donor remains. While learning Anatomy, dignity and respect for the donor remains is expected at all times. 15. How long are the remains kept in Trinity College? Donor remains are usually kept for 3 years, after which the remains are ready for interment or cremation, which usually takes place in the month of July. 16. What happens when the remains are ready for interment or cremation? We will contact the donor s family about 6 months before interment is due to take place to discuss arrangements for interment/cremation. The Dublin Medical Colleges Plot at Glasnevin Cemetery 5

6 The Anatomy Department has been receiving donations since the introduction of the Anatomy Act of At this time a burial site at Glasnevin Cemetery was allocated to the Dublin Medical Colleges, which include The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin. Donors from all three colleges are interred in this plot. Inscription at Dublin Medical Schools Plot Many people who donated their remains to the Trinity Medical School have been interred in this site, which is still used today by the Dublin Colleges. Although cremation is more popular now, the plot at Glasnevin is used when a donor requests interment at Glasnevin. Alternatively, the remains can be cremated at Glasnevin Crematorium, after which the ashes are collected by the family, who can decide on their final resting place. The College covers the cost of either of these choices. If a donor has a private family plot they wish to use, or the family wish cremation to take place at another crematorium, these arrangements then become private arrangements and the expenses will not be fully covered. 6

7 17. These are some of the choices available for the interment/cremation of remains from this Medical School Cremation. at Glasnevin Crematorium. The College will cover the cost of cremation at Glasnevin Crematorium. This includes the removal of the remains from Trinity College to Glasnevin Crematorium, the coffin and the urn for the ashes. If requested the College will assist in arranging for a priest or minister to be present for the committal ceremony. Once cremation has taken place the ashes must be collected by the family, within 30 days Interment.in the Dublin Medical Schools plot at Glasnevin Cemetery. The College will cover the cost of burial at Glasnevin Crematorium. This includes the removal of the remains from Trinity College to Glasnevin Crematorium, the coffin and the opening of the grave at Glasnevin. If requested the College will assist in arranging for a priest or minister to be present for the committal ceremony Private arrangement for either (a) Interment within the Dublin area. (b) Interment outside the Dublin area. (c)cremation at a Dublin Crematorium (Other than Glasnevin Crematorium.) (a) Private Interment: within the Dublin area. The College will provide a coffin and cover the expense of removing the remains from Trinity College directly to a Dublin Cemetery. The family/estate must pay for the opening of the grave and cover any other expenses incurred. (b)private Interment: outside the Dublin area The college will provide a coffin; the family/estate must cover any other expenses incurred. (c) Private Cremation: The College will provide a coffin and cover the cost of removing the remains directly to a Dublin Crematorium. The family/estate must cover the cost of cremation and any other expenses incurred. 7

8 Book of Remembrance A Book of Remembrance was commissioned by the Anatomy Department in May 2000, to acknowledge those people who donated their remains to medical science. Sometimes, because of exceptional circumstances at the time of death, the department is unable to accept a donation. These donor names are also recorded in our Book of Remembrance. To us, it is the intention to donate that matters, as much as the gift. This book is a gesture of thanks and recognition to those donors, who so generously contributed to the teaching and research in the medical school of Trinity College. The name and date of death of the donors are inscribed in this book. "THE BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE IS DEDICATED TO THOSE WHOSE BODIES AFTER DEATH HAVE BEEN RENDERED USEFUL TO THEIR FELLOW CREATURES." Act of Remembrance and Thanksgiving. The Anatomy Department, Trinity College, in collaboration with the college chaplains, organise an Interfaith Act of Remembrance and Thanksgiving every 3 years. This service is a public acknowledgement of those who have so generously donated their remains to medical science. The families of the deceased, together with the staff and students of the department, attend this service and afterwards we have an opportunity to meet with the families and to express our thanks to them for facilitating the bequest made by their relatives. The Book of Remembrance will be present at this service and can also be viewed in the Anatomy Department by appointment. The next remembrance service will be held in the College Chapel in the Spring of