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Donated human bodies are indispensable to medical education and research. Ensuring valid informed consent through comprehensive documentation is an essential ethical obligation of all body donation programs. However, many body donation consent forms currently used in medical and dental faculties may lack the transparency required for truly informed decisions.
A recent study evaluated the informational content of twelve body donation forms from Sri Lankan institutions. These were compared against the Best Practices Guide for Donation Programs from the American Association of Clinical Anatomists (AACA). While all forms included basic procedural details like registration and transport, significant gaps remained in detailed disclosures.
The research highlighted that most forms failed to address several critical areas. Specifically, limited information was provided regarding the potential transfer of remains between institutions or the specific scope of their use. Furthermore, none of the evaluated forms addressed the imaging, videoing, or public display of tissues. Consequently, donors might not fully understand how their gift is utilized in modern digital or research settings.
Variation was also observed in legal requirements, such as the donor age of consent. Additionally, the retention period and final disposition of remains were often omitted. To align with global ethical standards, institutions must perform a comprehensive update of their documentation. Such improvements will ensure that consent is fully informed and respects the autonomy of the donor.
Ethical body donation requires transparent informed consent. This includes clear disclosures on how the body will be used, whether it will be imaged, how long it will be retained, and the final method of disposition, such as cremation or burial.
While some institutions allow for the transfer of remains to address shortages, this must be explicitly stated in the consent forms. Transparency regarding the location of use is a recommended best practice by the AACA.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Refer to the latest local and national guidelines for clinical practice.
References
Wickramarathna A et al. A comparative evaluation of the content of body donation forms issued by Sri Lankan medical and dental faculties. Anat Sci Educ. 2026 Apr 16. doi: 10.1002/ase.70243. PMID: 41992071.
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