If you would like to leave a valuable gift when you die, then donating your body to science may be the answer.
In this guide, you will learn why your body may not be accepted for medical science, how to go about getting your body donation organised and the potential costs involved, and ideas for a backup plan in the event your body is not accepted by a medical school.
Who is this guide for?
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1.5 mins
What most people don't know about body donation
How to donate your body to medical science
If you want to donate your body to medical science, you will have to give written and witnessed consent before you die for it to be deemed acceptable.
To find the nearest medical school near you and get a donor pack, click here.
A backup plan if your body is not accepted by a medical school
If your body is not accepted for medical science, and as you are already planning ahead, you might want to consider buying a funeral plan. A funeral plan fixes the cost at today's prices.
A No Frills direct cremation funeral plan is likely to be the most suitable. Direct cremation is the cheapest and simplest way for a body to be cremated. The cremation is unattended. Most funeral plan providers will refund the cost of a funeral plan, less a cancellation fee, if your body is accepted and the funeral plan isn't needed after all. You can compare the cost of suitable prepaid funeral plans here.
If you haven't or don't want to buy a funeral plan, leave instructions for loved ones in our free Funeral Wishes Planner.
Coronavirus pandemic
Until recently, any body donor who had previously tested positive for COVID-19 within a certain period would not have been accepted by a medical school. This is not necessarily the case now and some medical schools are slowly resuming body donations, but the service may be restricted for some time.
Each medical school has its own and common set of documented rules. With ever-changing regulation regarding the pandemic, contact your local medical school directly for up to date information.
* Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/coroners-statistics-2019/coroners-statistics-2019-england-and-wales
Useful RESOURCES
List of medical schools
Human Tissue Authority
Body donation in Scotland
Scottish Government
21 amazing things to do with your ashes
Before You Go Compare