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Faculty
of Medicine,
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DEPARTMENT OF ANATOMY - THE BODY DONATION PROGRAMME The Faculty of Medicine obtains human cadavers for dissections and other research purposes through the body donation programme of the Department of Anatomy. We reproduce here the standard letter sent to all those who make inquiries about body donations. Further information could be obtained by contacting the department. Dear Sir/Madam, DONATION OF A BODY TO THE MEDICAL FACULTY Thank you for your inquiry regarding the above subject. We do appreciate your gesture. However, after a person's death, the remains become the property of his executors. Accordingly, even through you have expressed a wish to donate your body after death, it is only with their consent that we can accept it. Therefore, it is necessary that you instruct your executors accordingly, and also apprise them of the following handing-over procedures. Your executors should contact the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Kynsey Road, Colombo 8, and fix upon the date and time for handing over the body. The Anatomy Department can be contacted on telephone numbers 688748, 688749, 695300 (extension 308) from Monday to Friday, between 8.00 am and 4.00 pm. The Professor of Anatomy, a member of the academic staff or one of the technical staff can also be contacted personally during these hours. A body can be accepted from Monday to Friday between 8.00 am and 4.00 pm (except on public holidays). At the time decided on, the body should be brought to the Francis Road (off Norris Canal Road, Colombo 8) entrance of the Department of Anatomy. It is regretted that it will not be possible to arrange for formal acceptance of the body. The person handing over the body will be called upon to submit his/her name, relationship to the deceased, address and identity card number. the Medical Registrar's Certificate of Death (the original) should also be handed over to the Department of Anatomy. The officer in Charge of the Police Station in your area should be informed before removal of the body from the residence or from the undertakers. It is preferable that religious ceremonies are completed at home. THE, UNDERTAKER SHOULD BE INSTRUCTED THAT THE EMBALMING SHOULD BE DONE THROUGH THE FEMORAL ARTERY IN FRONT OF THE UPPER PART OF THE THIGH. NO OTHER PART OF THE BODY SHOULD BE CUT OR DAMAGED. It would not be possible for the Faculty to provide transport. Please not that if a postmortem examination has been done or if the pituitary gland has been removed, the body can not be accepted. A body in which the eyes have been donated to the Eye Donation Society, however, can be accepted. Regrettably, it is not possible for us to undertake long-term preservation, or return of any part or parts of the body to your relatives. Thanking you, Yours faithfully, sgd The Dean. |