Body Donation

Donating one’s body to science is a personal, voluntary and completely selfless act in which the person bequeaths their body to further knowledge and research in the areas of human anatomy and surgical procedures.

Body donors are fundamental for the evolution of science, both in terms of teaching and research. Thanks to these donations, each year over one hundred students from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and the Faculty of Dentistry at UIC Barcelona, as well as active health professionals, have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and specialised training.

The donors are always treated with the utmost respect and dignity.

The donation process is very simple and may be arranged before death or after death through immediate family members.

Arranging the donation before death

To donate your body to science, you must be of legal age and be in possession of a body donor card. 

The application form may be requested by telephone, by calling (+34) 93 504 20 00, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and asking for the Body Donation Service. Once the paperwork has been completed, it must be returned by regular mail. If the information received is correct, the applicant will receive the body donor card. 

It is very important that the person’s family and/or friends, and/or the health centre staff, if hospitalised, are aware of their desire to donate their body to science, in order to arrange for transportation as quickly as possible when the time comes.

Arranging the donation after death

If the deceased did not complete the procedure prior to death, their immediate family members may arrange for the body to be donated. All they have to do is call (+34) 93 504 20 00, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and speak with Ms Judit Pascual. 

How to cancel the request

Donors who would like to cancel their request must call (+34) 93 504 20 00 and indicate their name and ID number. They will then receive a letter confirming the cancellation of their request, at which time they must return the donor card.

• Accidental death or any circumstances requiring a post-mortem examination.
• Severe or morbid obesity BMI ≥ 35.
• Infectious or contagious disease. 
• Death occurs outside Catalan territory. 
• Express opposition of the person’s most immediate family members.
• If the body does not arrive at UIC Barcelona within 48 hours of death. 
• Failure to present a copy of the deceased’s ID document (DNI), a photocopy of their death certificate or the original copy of the burial license. 
• The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences reserves the right to decline a donation for logistical reasons.

When the donor dies, the family or person responsible should contact the funeral services of the relevant town or city and indicate that the deceased wishes to donate their body to the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya. The funeral services will inform them of the documents that must be submitted. 

Once the administrative procedures have been completed, the funeral services will transport the body to our facilities. The Universitat Internacional de Catalunya will bear the transportation costs, provided that the death occurs in Catalonia. 

Gratitude

On behalf of everyone at UIC Barcelona, we would like to offer our most sincere gratitude to everyone who shows their interest in the future of medical training and research by making such a generous donation. 

In recognition of their selflessness, each year the Body Donation Service organises an Event to Thank Donors and Provide Updates in Anatomy.