Procuring, Using, and Disposing of Donated Human Bodies Used for Research and Teaching

• Updated: December 2008
• Primary Contact : Angela McArthur

This policy applies to research and teaching with any deceased human body or whole body part. It does not apply to tissue samples or specimens from living persons.

University employees and students desiring to procure a deceased human body or body ("donated body") must make a request through the Anatomy Bequest Program (ABP), the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, Cancer Center Tissue Procurement Facility, or a University of Minnesota tissue procurement organization such as the Minnesota Lion's Eye Bank and University of Minnesota Blood Cord Bank.

Educators or researchers interested in receiving human anatomical specimens for anatomy education or research from the ABP or an external procurement organization must complete an ABP proposal. The ABP Proposal Review Committee must approve each submitted proposal prior to human anatomical specimen access.

The use of donated bodies is regulated by the 2007 Uniform Anatomical Gift Act. As required by the Act, the University must ensure that individuals who donate bodies or body parts give informed consent to use these remains for research or teaching. The Anatomy Bequest Program has mechanisms for verifying that tissue procurement organizations have obtained informed consent for the donated bodies they handle.

When using donated bodies in research and teaching activities, University employees and students must comply with federal and state regulations, the wishes of donors and Institutional Review Board requirements. The donated body must be used as originally intended. If the employee or student wishes to use it for another purpose, he or she must contact the procurement organization that provided the donated body to verify that the additional use will not conflict with the informed consent agreement.

Donated human anatomical specimens used for education and research must be retained by the educator or researcher only for the amount of time necessary to complete the study. Educators and researchers must comply with the timeframe in which the human anatomical donation can be studied, cremated and the cremated remains returned to next-of-kin.

Regardless of where the donated body or body part was procured, University employees and students must notify the ABP when the research or teaching activity is complete. The donated body or body part must be disposed of according to the Minnesota Department of Health Mortuary Science Section regulations, Environmental Health and Safety policies and the wishes of the next-of-kin. The Anatomy Bequest Program ensures that final disposition complies with all of the above requirements.

This policy excludes the procurement, use, and disposition of tissues or body parts from living donors.

The policy does not address the procurement or use of human embryos or embryonic stem cells, which are addressed in Administrative Policy: Conducting Research with Human Embryos or Embryonic Stem Cells. The policy does not address the procurement or use of human fetal tissue, which is addressed in Administrative Policy: Conducting Human Fetal Transplantation Research.

The reason for the policy is to comply with the law and demonstrate a duty of care and respect for anatomical donors and the wishes of their families.

An additional reason for the policy is to create an official single unit responsible for the procurement, use and final disposition of anatomical donations used for medical education and research therefore reducing the risk to the University.

• Procuring, Using, and Disposing of Donated Human Bodies Used for Research and Teaching

• Anatomy Bequest Program (ABP) Forms page

Disposal

Disposal of the human specimen in the original container or original form. Disposal also applies to small quantities of human specimen that are residual (often referred to as waste) or have been adulterated through use.

Disposition Records

An accurate, continuous and current record used to track the acquisition, use and disposal of a donated body.

Donated Human Body

Any human body, whole body part, or organ from a cadaver.

Research

Systematic investigation, including development, testing and evaluation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.

Teaching

Activities that include classroom demonstrations, laboratory exercises and research projects that are required for completion of a course at the undergraduate, graduate or professional level.

Tissue Procurement Organization

An organization that is licensed to receive tissues or organs from donors.

University employee (faculty or researcher) or student

Contact ABP when a donated body is needed. Properly use and maintain disposition records of the donated body. Contact procedurement facilitator (e.g., ABP or Eye Bank) if intended use changes. Contact ABP to dispose of the donated body.

Anatomy Bequest Program (ABP)

Facilitate donation of whole body donors. Maintain bequest database. Arrange for transporting and preparing donated bodies for studies. Inspect facilities. Maintain communication with next-of-kin. Arrange for cremation and disposition of remains.

There are no appendices associated with this policy.

There is no FAQ associated with this policy.

• Administrative Policy: Conducting Research with Human Embryos or Embryonic Stem Cells
• Administrative Policy: Conducting Human Fetal Transplantation Research
• Uniform Anatomical Gift Act
• Department of Environmental Health Services

Effective:

February 2006