Over 500 people donated ther bodies to science in last five years

Ken Foxe

More than 500 people have donated their bodies to medical science in Ireland over the past five years.

The number of people making ‘anatomical donations’ rose from 79 in 2021 to 119 last year, according to figures from the Medical Council.

The donated bodies are used for medical education, surgical training, and research, with the council saying they are essential for teaching anatomy and training healthcare professionals.

Figures show the highest number of donations was made to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), which received 183 donations.

A total of 113 people gave their bodies for use by the medical school of University College Dublin (UCD), with 96 donations to University College Cork (UCC).

There were a further 81 individuals who donated their bodies for anatomical examination to the University of Galway and 66 to Trinity College Dublin (TCD).

Data released under FOI shows a relatively even gender split with a slight majority of men among the 539 total donations.

An analysis of the figures shows that most of those who donated their bodies to science were born in the 1930s or 1940s.

The records indicate the majority of the people were in their 70s, 80s, or 90s when they passed away.

However, one donation was from a woman who had lived for more than a century while there were other entries for people who were only in their 20s.

The Medical Council said these donors played a vital role in helping train the next generation of healthcare professionals and advancing research that improves patient care.

It said that to become a donor, an individual had to register with a participating medical school during their lifetime.

The council said this involved completing a consent form, having it witnessed, and returning it to the institution.

However, stating a wish to donate in a will is not sufficient and donors are able to withdraw consent at any time.

A statement said: “Following a donor's death, the family, next of kin, healthcare provider, or funeral director should contact the medical school as soon as possible.

“The school will assess whether the donation can be accepted. Acceptance cannot be guaranteed and depends on factors such as suitability, timing, and available capacity.”

The Medical Council said that donors were treated with dignity, respect, and confidentiality throughout the process.

“Many medical schools also hold memorial services to honour donors and acknowledge the contribution they have made to medical education and research,” a statement said.

The council added that anyone interested in donating their body could contact one of the five medical schools that administer such programmes: TCD, UCD, UCC, the University of Galway, and RCSI.