Queen's appeal for body donations

The Department of Health has today urged more people to consider leaving their bodies to medical science.

Many people donate kidneys, livers and other organs by joining the Organ Donor Register, yet the number of people in Northern Ireland leaving their whole bodies for medical research has fallen.

Approximately 300 new medical and dental students attend Queen’s University each year, and due to the reduced number of donations, there is now a shortage of bodies for education and training purposes.

Dr Glenda Mock, Principal Medical Officer for the Department of Health, said: “The successful training of doctors and dentists each year depends on the generosity of those who offer their bodies, after their death, for medical education, training and research.

“During the time the medical school holds the body, which may be up to three years, it will be used for vital training of medical students, dentists, trainee surgeons and other health professionals. Each body is made anonymous to protect identity.”

The donation of a body must be made by the person themselves, following the reading and signing of documents which ensure that donors and their relatives understand what is involved.

Dr Mock continued: “I would encourage all those people considering this worthwhile cause to write to the Anatomy department of Queen’s University Belfast, for further information.”

Dr Dave Wilson, Head of Anatomy at Queen’s University, added: “Anatomy at Queen’s has a central role in ensuring that future doctors and other health professionals serving this community understand how the human body is put together. To gain this understanding, both medical and dental students need to explore the body in detail and they need to acquire their knowledge from studying real bodies.

“It is often argued that you would not want your car repaired by a mechanic who had not worked on a car engine before. I would use this argument about someone working on my body.”

Those people interested in discussing the donation of their bodies to medical science can contact Anatomy at Queen’s by telephoning 028 90 97 2131, by emailing anatomy@qub.ac.uk or by writing to Anatomy at Queen’s, School of Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast. BT9 7BL.

(EF/KMcA)