Body Donation

Body donation for anatomical examination at the University of Oxford

The mission of the University of Oxford is the advancement of learning by teaching and research and its dissemination by every means. In order to continue to provide world-class education and training for our medical students, we rely on generous and public-spirited people who would like their bodies to be of use after their death. Bodies donated to Oxford are a vital resource for teaching students about the structure and function of the human body, for training healthcare professionals and for developing innovative medical and surgical techniques.

What are donated bodies used for?

We use donated bodies for teaching medical students and students on courses allied to medicine about the structure and function of the human body. We provide specialised training courses for doctors, surgeons and other healthcare professionals. From time to time we may host courses for anatomical artists and medical illustrators. We host researchers undertaking research in connection with disorders, or the functioning, of the human body. Donated bodies are not used for research into specific diseases. If you wish to donate your body to research into a specific condition, please contact the relevant research organisation or charity.

What happens to a body once it is donated?

Specialist staff embalm donated bodies in our mortuary and store them under strictly-controlled conditions, under the regulation of the Human Tissue Authority. Students and medical trainees attend teaching sessions in our Demonstration Room and nearby classrooms in our specialist anatomy education facility. Classes are led by medical tutors, researchers, anatomy prosectors and clinicians. We use modern imaging techniques to equip students for their clinical practice and we create histological slides to teach microscopic anatomy.

Are all donations accepted?

We are not able to accept all donations and we cannot make a decision about acceptance until the time of death. If we are unable to accept in Oxford but believe that another medical school might be able to, we will ask the potential donor's next of kin whether they would like us to pursue this as an option. Because we can never guarantee to accept a donation, we strongly recommend making sure that potential donors discuss their wishes in the event that we have to decline a donation with their next of kin. This reduces any uncertainty at a difficult time.

Am I too old to donate my body?

There is no upper age limit on donation; donors aged 18 and over can be accepted.

Do I live close enough to Oxford?

We normally only accept donations from those with an OX, RG or SN postcode. 

How do I give consent for anatomical examination?

Under the Human Tissue Act 2004, written and witnessed consent for anatomical examination must be given prior to death. Consent cannot be given by someone else. For consent for body donation to be valid under the Human Tissue Act, it must be in writing and signed by the donor in the presence of a witness who attests their signature.

What should I do if I am considering donating my body? 

Full details of our bequest programme and the forms to complete if you are considering donating your body can be requested by contacting bequests@dpag.ox.ac.uk or writing to: 

The Bequest Secretary
Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics
Sherrington Building
Parks Road
Oxford OX1 3PT

The Bequest Booklet is available in a wide variety of languages including Braille, please email us for further details.

Can a prospective donor withdraw consent?

Consent can be withdrawn at any time by notifying us in writing. We are always glad to hear from prospective donors and you are welcome to contact us to discuss or to withdraw consent.