A decision to donate your body to science needs to reach two groups: the university department handling the paperwork and the people who will notify it when you die. The Universitat de València runs its own programme for teaching and research. This guide covers that programme; other universities set their own conditions.
Read what you are authorising before signing
The UV declaration form is for an adult able to make an informed decision. Alongside teaching and research, it covers images for scientific publications, possible transfer to another Spanish university with the necessary permissions, and access to medical records when donation takes place. Ask the department to explain anything unclear before submitting it.
The donor and two witnesses must sign the form. Copies of their DNI or NIE identity documents and the donor’s SIP health card must be attached. There is one copy for the department and another for the donor.
Two phone numbers for different purposes
- Registration and information: +34 963 983 502. The Human Anatomy and Embryology department office answers calls on working days from 9am to 2pm and arranges appointments to submit documents. A postal procedure is also available. Email: donaciones@uv.es.
- Notification of death: +34 628 405 373. The form lists this as a 24-hour service. Relatives, close contacts or healthcare staff should know about the decision and notify the department immediately.
The university issues a stamped donor card after receiving the paperwork. Registration does not guarantee acceptance of the body: the programme checks eligibility at death and lists exclusions relating to health, judicial proceedings or the condition of the body. UV states that donors are not charged.
Organ donation follows a separate process
La Fe hospital warns that actual organ donation is incompatible with whole-body donation to science. Carrying an organ donor card does not register you with the university programme. If you are considering both possibilities, discuss your wishes beforehand with the responsible teams.
Keep your signed copy somewhere your close contacts can find it and share the notification number with them: the form specifically asks them to make that immediate call.