Donation of bodies for research and teaching
The donation of the body to science is a voluntary, personal and altruistic act through which the person gives up their body after death for teaching and/or research purposes in the field of Human Anatomy. This discipline contains the study of the structures of the human body and constitutes the practical basis of the degree in Medicine and other degrees in health sciences. Any person of legal age can donate her body.
The donation is, therefore, of great educational and research benefit and makes it possible for students to carry out internships, continuous training and the development of highly specialized courses for health professionals. Not only do students of all healthcare disciplines benefit, but also practicing surgeons and physicians, researchers, nurses and physiotherapists can develop new techniques that do not compromise any risk to patients.
In the Community of Madrid there is the possibility of indicating the desire to donate the body for research and teaching at the time of making the document granting previous instructions.
Even if a person is registered as a body donor for research or teaching, they can revoke this decision at any time.
Who can donate?
Any person of legal age with the capacity to understand the donation process. In the event that the deceased had not formalized his donation while alive, and his desire to be a donor was known, his first-degree relatives, relatives and representatives can do so according to the new figures in accordance with the provisions of Law 8/2021, of June 2, which reforms civil and procedural legislation to support people with disabilities in the exercise of their legal capacity.
Most of the bodies are valid for donation, however, it could be generally rejected in the following cases:
- NON-natural death: violent death (suicide, homicide or accidental) or suspected criminality that requires a judicial autopsy.
- Natural death in which a clinical autopsy, limb amputation or extensive surgery has been performed.
- When organs have been removed for transplantation (except in the case of cornea donation).
- Having suffered from a high-risk infectious disease (Hepatitis B or C, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis...) with high contagion power that poses a risk to students, teachers or technical staff.
- Having suffered one of the pathologies included in the Mortuary Police Decree of the Community of Madrid (Decree 9/2020, of the Governing Council) that determines their belonging to Group I for the classification of corpses (cholera, anthrax, rabies, plague, Creutzedlk -Jackob or other spongiform encephalopathies) or contamination by radioactive products.
- Great obesity or emaciation (morbid thinning) incompatible with the preservation of the body.
- When notification of death is delayed for more than 24 hours.
Where to donate?
More information
In the Community of Madrid:
- Accredited research centers, according to the Mortuary Health Protocols collected in certain hospitals. The legislation allows donation for research or teaching in the hospital where the person died, without specifying a private or public center, it simply must be authorized for research or teaching.
- Complutense University of Madrid, through the Body Donation Center and Dissection Rooms (CDC&SD)
- Autonomous University of Madrid. Body Donation Program for Teaching and Medical Research at the Faculty of Medicine (UAM).
- By mail or in person (by appointment):
Body Donation Center and Dissection Rooms (CDC and SD)
Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology I
Faculty of Medicine of the Complutense University of Madrid
Plaza Ramón y Cajal sn Pabellón 5-6
28040 - Madrid
- Por correo electrónico: secanat1@med.ucm.es
- By phone 91 394 13 74 (24 hour customer service)
(Weekdays 8.00:18.00 a.m. - XNUMX:XNUMX p.m., by appointment)
- By mail or in person (by appointment):
Secretariat - Body Donor Program
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience.
Faculty of Medicine, Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM)
Calle del Arzobispo Morcillo, 4
28029 - Madrid
- Por correo electrónico: donation.medicina@uam.es
- By phone 914 97 53 00
(Working days 9.00:14.00 a.m. - XNUMX:XNUMX p.m., except August)
The Mortuary Health legislation of the Community of Madrid (Decree 124/1997 of October 9) by which the Mortuary Health Regulation of the Community of Madrid is approved, modified by the Decree 9 / 2020, of the Governing Council) includes the possibility of donating corpses for teaching and educational purposes.
