The Faculty of Medicine of Albacete has a database with up to 1,882 applications from people interested in donating their body or brain since the start of the donation program for teaching and research in this center of the Albacete Campus.
The coordinator of this program, Mar Arroyo, a professor of Anatomy and Human Embryology, highlighted that this program has grown progressively year after year, with the exception of what happened in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic, which caused a halt. “Since 2021 we have started to recover, and right now the average number of body donations we receive is 13 bodies per year since 2022.”
This year, as of mid-July, the Faculty of Medicine of Albacete has already received seven body donations (four women and two men) and one more brain donation. In 2023, the same number of donors was recorded, but four were men and three were women.
“Last year was slow because we also had to renew the agreement with the funeral home, which caused a slight pause,” said Arroyo, who also reminded that the Faculty of Medicine of Ciudad Real maintains this program active and collects body and brain donations. In this way, the professor of Anatomy and Human Embryology clarified that “with this volume of donations, the teaching of students in both Medicine and other health science careers is guaranteed.”
In addition to meeting the training needs of medical students (for first, second, and third-year courses), Nursing, and Pharmacy, the bodies stored in the refrigeration chambers of the dissection room are also used for postgraduate training courses with the Maxillofacial Surgery Service of the Integrated Care Management. Two editions of the head and neck flaps course have already been held, and this year we will celebrate the third edition in October, allowing professionals, primarily residents of the specialty from CHUA and from all corners of the country, to practice more advanced techniques than those performed by students during their training period. For this action, there is one body available for every two doctors.
Utility. Mar Arroyo explained that once the donated bodies are received, a series of complete analyses are performed to ensure they are free from certain infectious diseases, such as AIDS, tuberculosis, or hepatitis, “despite the fact that all these bodies are processed, preserved in formaldehyde and refrigeration chambers during the period they are used for teaching,” added the professor of Anatomy and Human Embryology of the Albacete campus, who added that since the arrival of Covid, PCR tests are also conducted to ensure that these bodies do not carry the virus.
The program coordinator specified that the average useful life of donated bodies for this purpose ranges from two to three years, “but this varies depending on the number of postgraduate courses conducted each year.” After that period, the family or the contact person registered in the donation bulletin is notified to come collect the ashes.
“Generally, it is at the end of the academic year that the remains are usually cremated, although there is also a possibility that the remains are buried if specified by the donor’s family,” added Arroyo, who explained that the donation program includes the transportation from the place of death, as long as it is within Castilla-La Mancha to the Faculty of Medicine, with the institution also covering the costs of cremation once the body is no longer useful for training and research.
In contrast, the costs of collecting the remains from the municipal cemetery to the place where they wish to deposit them in case of burial are the responsibility of the donor’s family. “There is also the possibility of using the spaces provided by the City Council in the cemetery for the cremated remains to rest: either in the designated niche area for this purpose, or in the case of ashes in the Garden of Rest.”
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Future Trends in Body Donation for Medical Education
The growing interest in body and brain donations for medical research at institutions like the Facultad de Medicina de Albacete is indicative of a broader trend that could shape the future of medical education and training. With nearly 1,882 individuals having expressed their willingness to donate since the program’s inception, it’s clear that public awareness and acceptance of such programs is on the rise.
As medical schools continue to confront the challenges of patient-centered care and advanced surgical techniques, the availability of donated bodies will become increasingly essential. The recent increase to an average of 13 body donations per year, following the initial decline during the Covid pandemic, reflects a recovery and a renewed commitment to enhancing medical training.
Looking forward, it is anticipated that more universities will implement similar donation programs, propelled by a growing societal understanding of their importance for developing practical skills among aspiring healthcare professionals. The success models from institutions like Albacete could inspire a national or even international framework for body donations, which might lead to enhanced collaboration among medical schools.
Moreover, the integration of advanced technology in the training process, including virtual reality simulations, might coexist with hands-on experience gained from body donations. This hybrid approach could afford students a comprehensive learning experience, where they not only handle real human anatomy but also utilize technological advancements to deepen their understanding of complex medical procedures.
With a commitment to ethical standards and stringent health checks, as seen in Albacete’s rigorous screening for infectious diseases, future programs are also likely to prioritize donor safety and dignity. Continuous enhancements in preservation techniques and technology will further ensure that donated bodies remain viable for instructional use, extending their usability to potentially three years, optimized for both fundamental and postgraduate medical training.
As current practices evolve, the provision of logistical support, such as transportation and cremation services, will play a pivotal role in encouraging more individuals to consider body donation. The trend indicates a shift towards more humane and accessible options for final arrangements, as institutions take on responsibilities that alleviate concerns from donors and their families.
Overall, as medical education adapts to meet the complexities of modern healthcare, the emphasis on body donation programs is set to grow, enhancing educational outcomes and ultimately benefiting patient care in the future.