Body Donation

Body donation or an anatomical gift is a way to reduce funeral costs and give back to the scientific community. A donated body is used for research and training current and future medical professionals. In most cases, the body will be cremated after study completion, and the ashes will be returned to the family. ​Every donation is regarded by the medical community as precious gift to medical education. Donors and their families can be assured their contribution is greatly appreciated by both students and faculty. All anatomical donations are treated with utmost respect.

In Alberta, there are two body donation programs. Get more details by following the hyperlinks:
  1. The University of Alberta Anatomical Gifts Program
  2. The University of Calgary Body Donation Program
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Organ and Tissue Donation

The following information was provided by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta and My Health Alberta. 
The law for donating human tissue and organs is set out in Alberta’s Human Tissue and Organ Donation Act.
Living Donors
You can sign up to become a living donor, which means you agree to donate a kidney, part of your lung or liver, or tissue such as bone marrow or stem cells while you are still living.
Living Donor Programs:
​Donation on Death
If you are 18 years or older, you can indicate your wish to become a donor in several ways:
  1. Register online with the Alberta Organ and Tissue Donation Registry (https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Pages/OTDRHome.aspx); or
  2. Sign the back of your Alberta Personal Health Card (must be witnessed) –this only applies to cards issued prior to 2018; or earlier.
  3. Tell the agent at the registry when you renew your driver’s license and your consent will be indicated on your driver’s license.
If you do not give your formal consent in one of the ways noted above, then you should make your wishes known to your family and friends. That way, your organs may still be donated when you die if one of the following persons (in order of priority) gives consent:
  • your spouse or adult interdependent partner, if you are not estranged;
  • your adult child;
  • your parent or guardian;
  • your adult sibling;
  • any other adult next of kin.
Whatever your preference, we recommend letting your personal representative and your family know so they can follow through quickly at time of death. Register ahead of time and keep your Donor Card next to your health care insurance card so it may be found readily.
Organs that can be donated include:
  • heart
  • lungs
  • liver
  • kidney
  • pancreas
  • pancreas islet cells
  • small bowel
  • stomach
Tissues that can be donated include:
  • cornea
  • sclera (white of the eye)
  • heart valves
  • skin
  • bone
  • tendons
  • amniotic tissue
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​Facts about Organ and Tissue Donation

  • Only 1 - 2% of people that die can be considered for organ donation.
  • Most people can be considered for tissue donation.
  • There is no cost to your family or estate if you donate organs or tissues.
  • Most of the time, there is no way to tell that the person was an organ or tissue donor and you can have an open casket funeral.
  • The surgery to remove organs and tissues is done with the same care as any other surgery.
  • Most religions respect a person’s right to make a decision about organ and tissue donation. Talk to your spiritual advisor.
  • Talk to your family about organ and tissue donation and discuss your wishes.
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More information

Organ and Tissue Donation Overview. (My Health Alberta)
Planning to Be an Organ and Tissue Donor (My Health Alberta)