Will my donation be accepted?

The Bequest Office team endeavours to accept as many bequests as possible. Regrettably, it is not always possible to accept all body donations offered.

There are certain medical conditions or circumstances at the time of the death which can make the body unsuitable for anatomical examination or research purposes.

These preclusion criteria are in place to safeguard our staff and students, to allow for the study of the normal structure of the body, and to ensure that a body accepted is suitable for our preservation processes.

The University is unable to accept donations when our mortuary is at capacity, and when the Bequest Office is closed, for example during major public holidays, such as Easter or Christmas and New Year.

We hope you will understand that if a donation is declined, this does not mean any ingratitude on our part. If the donation cannot be accepted the next of kin or executor will be informed as soon as possible so they may make funeral arrangements.

No guarantee can be given that a bequest will be accepted.

Circumstances where a donation may be declined

  1. No consent from the donor themselves or consent invalid under the Human Tissue Act 2004
  2. Post mortem examination or coroner’s inquest
  3. Transmissible disease: for example, Hepatitis, HIV, Septicaemia, Clostridium, MRSA, Tuberculosis, Meningitis, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, COVID-19.
  4. Dementia: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Mixed aetiology dementias or dementia of an unknown cause (Vascular dementia is acceptable)
  5. Jaundice
  6. Organs donated for transplantation or research (cornea donation and brain donation is acceptable)
  7. Intravenous chemotherapy treatment within three months prior to death. Oral chemotherapy is acceptable.
  8. Internal bleeding or severe circulatory problems
  9. Aged under 18 years: There is no upper age limit to acceptance. However, we are unable to accept donors under 18 years of age.
  10. Seven days or more have passed since death, or transport cannot be arranged to the School of Anatomy within seven days. We must arrange for a body to be accepted in the School of Anatomy within seven days of death. A decision for acceptance will need to be made soon after death, to allow time for transport arrangements to be made.
  1. Cancer: Depending on the type, severity and spread of the cancer.
  2. Severe bedsores or varicose ulcers or broken skin: Small sores may be acceptable.
  3. Peripheral vascular disease and peripheral oedema.
  4. Recent operations where the wound has not healed.
  5. Previous multiple operations: This is dependent on the number and type of previous operations, and the ability to study normal anatomy.
  6. Amputation of more than one limb.
  7. Severe deformity of joints and spine, or limb contractures
  8. Size: Excessive weight, such as obesity. Low weight, severe frailty or muscle wastage. Tall height.
  9. Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease and other neurological conditions.
  10. Operational Considerations: The Bequest Office may be closed for operational considerations, such as the mortuary being at capacity or maintenance of essential equipment.
  11. University Closure. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept bequests during the major public holidays at Christmas, New Year and Easter. During these times, next of kin are advised to make their own funeral arrangements.

Please contact the Bequest Office if these apply to you and you require further information.

How a decision is made regarding acceptance

The next of kin will notify the Bequest Office of a death. Guidance for this is provided for next of kin.

Once notified of a death, the Bequest Office will contact the relevant healthcare services/professionals, typically the GP, hospital, hospice and nursing home staff, to discuss the cause of death and other relevant background medical and surgical history. This is a necessary part of the bequest process and will determine whether the donation can be accepted. Next of kin and executors will then be informed of the decision.

In some circumstances when the University of Bristol’s Bequest Office is closed, a person’s body donation may be accepted by another licenced medical school or anatomy department. If you wish to only donate your body to Bristol University, please state this when returning your consent form. We can then add this information to your record.

If the donation is not accepted

Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that a donation will be accepted to the School of Anatomy. If the donation is not accepted, we advise the next of kin or executors to proceed with normal arrangements for burial or cremation. It is regretted that the University cannot make any financial contribution to these private funeral arrangements.