Human Organs Inquiry: Implementing the Report
Human Tissue Act 2004 information
The Government introduced legislation in the 2003/2004 Parliamentary
session to regulate the removal, storage and use of Human Organs and Tissue. The Human Tissue Act 2004
received Royal Assent on 15th November 2004.
The Human Tissue Act 2004:
- streamlines and updates current law on organs and tissue so that current gaps and anomalies are put right and the system is made fit for the 21st century;
- provides safeguards and penalties to prevent a recurrence of the distress caused by retention of tissue and organs without proper consent. Tissue or organs cannot be taken or kept without consent other than for a Coroner to establish the cause of death
- sets up an overarching authority which will rationalise existing regulation and will introduce regulation of post mortems and the retention of tissue for purposes like education and research;
- provides for the Human Tissue Authority to issue Codes of practice giving practical guidance on the conduct of activities within its remit:
- will help improve public confidence so that people will be more willing to agree to valuable uses of tissue and organs like research and transplantation;
- will improve professional confidence so that properly authorised supplies
of tissue for research, education and transplantation can be maintained or improved.
- The Human Tissue Act 2004 in brief
- Human Tissue Act 2004
The
Act will come fully into force on 1st September. The Human Tissue Authority, established under the Act,
has drawn up seven Codes of Practice. On the removal, storage, use and disposal of
human tissue and organs.
The Human Tissue Authority has also developed guidance on licensing
which is required under the Human Tissue Act 2004. This can be accessed via the link below.
