Russian government tackles problems of the dead

The Russian government identified the cases in which the bodies of the deceased can be delivered to health-care facilities for research and educational purposes.

On August 1, The Rossiyskaya Gazeta published the governmental decree from July 21 "About the approval of the rules of transfer of unclaimed bodies, organs and tissues of a deceased person for use in medical, scientific and educational purposes, as well as about the use of unclaimed bodies, organs and tissues of a deceased person for such purposes."

According to the decree, a body can be delivered to the benefit of science, if, after the identification of the deceased, no relatives or friends are found who would decide to bury the deceased person. The process requires a special request from medical or pharmaceutical institutions and a written permission from the department that appointed a forensic examination. Identifying the deceased is a mandatory requirement, because the delivery of a nameless unclaimed body is now prohibited, although it was previously possible.

The decree also specifies the maximum term of the use of unclaimed bodies, organs and tissues of a deceased person. It should not exceed 10 years. The document also specifies the procedure for the subsequent burial. The burial of an unclaimed body of a deceased person shall be conducted by specialized funeral services.  

In addition, those who want to leave their body for medicine, will retain this right. However, in order to be able to use the body, organs and tissues of a deceased person in medical, scientific and educational purposes, one should issue the notarial "will" before death.