A comparative evaluation of the content of body donation forms issued by Sri Lankan medical and dental faculties

Abstract Donated human bodies are indispensable to medical education and research. Ensuring valid informed consent through comprehensive and transparent documentation is widely recognized as an essential ethical obligation of body donation programs. Therefore, it is important to identify the deficiencies in the consenting process. This study evaluated the ethical relevance and adequacy of the informational content of body donation consent forms used by Sri Lankan medical and dental faculties. Body donation forms publicly available on institutional websites were evaluated using a checklist created based on the “Best Practices Guide for Donation Programs,” published by the American Association of Clinical Anatomists, and relevant Sri Lankan legislation. Twelve body donation forms were reviewed. All forms included essential procedural information such as recipient entity, preacceptance preparation methods, registration requirements, documentation, transport arrangements, and prohibition of payment. Variation was observed in the donor age of consent and the witness age requirements (18 or 21 years). Limited information was provided regarding potential transfer between institutions, scope of use, retention period, and final disposition of remains. None of the forms addressed imaging, videoing, display, or indefinite retention of tissues. Although procedure of obtaining informed consent through body donation forms in Sri Lankan medical and dental faculties covers the basic ethical aspects, gaps in detailed disclosure raise questions about whether they truly achieve informed consent. A comprehensive update is necessary to ensure consent is fully informed and aligns with ethical standards.