How we use donated bodies
The Human Tissue Authority regulates the use of bodies donated for anatomical examination within the legal framework set out in the Human Tissue Act 2004.
At Leicester Medical School, donated bodies may be used for:
- Anatomical examination - the teaching of the structure and function of the human body to students or healthcare professionals
- Education and training - the training of healthcare professionals, usually those learning surgical techniques, as opposed to anatomical examination
- Research - scientific studies which improve the understanding of the human body. Please note that at Leicester Medical School, donated bodies are not used for research into specific diseases, and organs will not be donated for transplantation. Details of some organisations which undertake specific research may be found on our useful links page
The Human Tissue Act 2004 requires that your personal consent to the donation is given prior to your death. The easiest way to do this is to complete one of our Consent Forms. We do not make the forms available online, but you can request an Information Pack, which will include a Consent Form.