More than 100 bodies left to medical science in Ireland last year

Dr Aideen Sullivan of the Anatomy Depertment at UCC said: “We are very grateful to our donors as training and research would not be possible without them." Picture: Larry Cummins

A professor at UCC has said that the donation of human remains to science is “essential for teaching” and cannot be replicated using other methods.

Aideen Sullivan, head of the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience at University College Cork, was speaking as new figures from the Medical Council show 107 bodies were left to science in Ireland last year.

Despite advances in technology, the practice of working on a deceased person's remains continues around the world. There are five medical facilities across the Ireland that study anatomy.

Last year, 14 remains were donated to the University of Galway, while Trinity College received 15 donations, University College Dublin was given 22 and 15 bodies were left to the laboratory in UCC.

The largest number of donations was to the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, where 41 human bodies were received in 2022.

Prof. Sullivan told the Irish Examiner that while the college is currently receiving enough donations annually to fulfil its teaching needs for undergraduate students, other courses have training demands.

Research and postgraduate training are always expanding. We do require increased numbers of donors to meet these training demands.

“We are very grateful to our donors as training and research would not be possible without them," she said.

Anatomical examination is only possible in this country when a person makes a request to donate their whole body for medical education after they die.

A person who wishes to donate their body to science after their death is advised to contact one of the five colleges directly because each medical school has its own procedures and agreements.

Prof. Sullivan said there are many reasons why a person decides to donate. “Although we do not require an explanation from those who donate their bodies, donors tend to do so for altruistic reasons” she said.

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“Sometimes donors do offer a reason, and this is often that they feel a strong desire to give something back in return for receiving exceptional medical care.

She added, “Others may have received a diagnosis of a rare medical condition and feel that it would be useful for our future doctors and scientists to receive more knowledge in this area, which may lead to future developments in treatment options”.

Colleges advise that a next of kin is made aware of any decisions regarding a loved one’s remains, and it can also be written in a will. “Donors have the option of either donating for up to three years or permanently donating their remains,” added Professor Sullivan.

Each college holds the remains for different periods of time, in UCC that can be for between six months and three years, “depending on the consent given by the donor when they complete the paperwork. The average time is approximately two years”.

Burial

The remains of a person can then be returned to their family, or the college can organise a burial in accordance with the person’s wishes. “Donors may choose whether they wish to be cremated, buried in the University plot or in a private family plot” said Professor Sullivan.

“In the case of three-year donations, the donor’s family will be notified, and they communicate with the department of anatomy to arrange the release of the donor’s remains. The university is responsible for organising burial and cremation in the Island Crematorium.

“However, when a donor chooses permanent donation, their remains are not returned to their family. For permanent donations the university will not contact the family at the time of release. The remains will be cremated and interred in the university plot,” she said.

Every year, the donors are remembered in the different colleges around the country. UCC, which provides anatomy education to more than 600 students holds a biannual thanksgiving service in the Honan Chapel to acknowledge those who have donated their remains to them.

The Medical Council is the licensing authority for the practice of anatomy in the State in accordance with the Anatomy Act 1832 as outlined in Section 106 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007.

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