Collection and use of all data follows the 10 principles of the Canadian Standards Association's Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information.
- Accountability – The Department Head of Anatomy and Cell Biology is responsible for the access to personal information, the use of the information, the training of all personnel that have access to the information, and keeping current all policies and practices that protect personal information. The only organizations given information are the Information Services Corporation or other agency the Government of Saskatchewan assigns or retains to catalogue vital statistics information or to register burial permits and cremation permits. Information related to the disposition of remains is only released to next of kin or someone who proves to be related to the donor.
- Identifying purpose – The purpose for the collection of all data on the form is to fill out burial permits, cremation permits and to register the death. The reason they are collected before death is to relieve some of the pressure from the bereaved. If the donor can identify the details prior to death, their next of kin does not have to find those details. If a decedent is declined or if a donor withdraws from the program such information is destroyed except for the first and last name which is used to track statistics used to ensure program success. The purpose for gathering the contact information for the donor and for the next of kin is to update information on the database and to inform the next of kin of the process after time of death. The next of kin will also be contacted to confirm arrangements and to be invited to the commemorative service for their loved one.
- Consent – A printable document will be generated upon completion of the form. This document is intended to give the donor all of the information that they require to give consent to the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan to acquire permits for burial and cremation and to register death. The donor must indicate consent by signing the form sent to them. Without signature, the form is considered invalid and cannot be used for any purpose except to send the form back for signature or phone to request a signature. Consent may be withdrawn up until the time of bequest. At that time, the Department is required to provide information to ISC in order to follow legislation regarding death and burial in the Province of Saskatchewan. Withdrawal of consent is given in written form. Upon withdrawal, all documents are shredded and all information in electronic format is deleted except those details needed for statistical purposes such as name and city. These are always reported only as numbers.
- Limiting Collection – Only those details required for the purpose outlined in 2 are gathered.
- Limiting use, disclosure and retention – All information given will only be used for the purposes outlined above. After disposition of the remains, records of disposition, the first, middle, last name, and the birth date of the donor will be kept in an archive and only used to answer specific questions about the disposition of the remains by written request from the family of the deceased. If the donor requests that all or a portion of their body is to be preserved and kept in the Department, all records shall remain locked in the department for as long as the specimens are in use. Upon disposition, these records will be treated as all other records. All other information requested is to be distributed by ISC or a designated agency of the Government of Saskatchewan. For a time of up to 2 years after disposition of remains, most personal information will be destroyed. The information retained shall be the full name, birth date and the disposition records of the donor. The first two pieces of information will solely be used to identify the donor so that descendants can get information about disposition. Burial information is not identified as personal information under the privacy act.
- Accuracy – Only the contact information will be updated on a 3 year cycle or as needed since all other information will remain constant throughout the life of a subscriber to the program.
- Safeguards – All personal information retained will either be kept on password protected servers or kept in locked cabinets or a combination of the two. Access to such information is limited to staff who assist with registration forms, generate letters from the information or register the death or apply for the burial and cremation permits.
- Openness – The Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology promises to share all information about how details are used with anyone who asks.
- Individual Access – Any person who has given personal information to the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology shall, upon written request, receive such information in order to ensure accuracy of such information.
- Challenging Compliance – If, for any reason, a donor or next of kin has a complaint about the compliance of the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology with regulations related to privacy, that person may make a complaint to the Department through the Head of the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology or Manager of the Body Bequeathal Program, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Rd., Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5. In the event that a complaint has been made, the head will designate a manager to investigate the complaint and to modify the policies and procedures if need be.