Human Tissue Act 2004: Difference between revisions
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The act was brought about as a consequence to the [[Alder Hey organs scandal]],<ref name="BBC Q&A"/> in which organs of children had been retained by the [[Alder Hey Children's Hospital]] without consent. |
The act was brought about as a consequence to the [[Alder Hey organs scandal]],<ref name="BBC Q&A"/> in which organs of children had been retained by the [[Alder Hey Children's Hospital]] without consent. |
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The act allows for anonymous [[organ donation]] (previously, living people could only donate organs to those with which they had a genetic or emotional connection),<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4942732.stm |title=Strangers allowed to give organs |date=25 April 2006 |newspaper=[[BBC News Online]]}}</ref> and requires licenses |
The act allows for anonymous [[organ donation]] (previously, living people could only donate organs to those with which they had a genetic or emotional connection),<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4942732.stm |title=Strangers allowed to give organs |date=25 April 2006 |newspaper=[[BBC News Online]]}}</ref> and requires licenses for those intending to publicly display human remains, such as ''[[BODIES... The Exhibition]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4772739.stm |title=Body parts shows to need licences |date=15 May 2006 |newspaper=[[BBC News Online]]}}</ref> The act also specifies that in cases of organ donation after death the wishes of the deceased takes precedence over the wishes of relatives,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5298646.stm |title=Radical changes for organ donors |date=31 August 2006 |newspaper=[[BBC News Online]]}}</ref> but a parliamentary report concluded in 2006 that the act likely would fail in this regard since most surgeons would be unwilling to confront families in such situations.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6053102.stm |title=Transplant law 'likely to fail' |date=15 October 2006 |newspaper=[[BBC News Online]]}}</ref> |
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The act prohibits [[organ trade|selling organs]]. In 2007 a man became the first person convicted under the act for trying to sell his kidney online for £24,000 in order to pay |
The act prohibits [[organ trade|selling organs]]. In 2007 a man became the first person convicted under the act for trying to sell his kidney online for £24,000 in order to pay off his gambling debts.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1551226/Gambler-tried-to-sell-his-kidney-online.html |title=Gambler tried to sell his kidney online |date=11 May 2007 |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |author=Stephanie Condron}}</ref> |
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The act does not extend to [[Scotland]], its counterpart there is the [[Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006]]. |
The act does not extend to [[Scotland]], its counterpart there is the [[Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006]]. |
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Revision as of 10:44, 30 April 2010
The Human Tissue Act 2004 (c. 30) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which consolidated previous legislation and created the Human Tissue Authority to "regulate the removal, storage, use and disposal of human bodies, organs and tissue."[1]
The act was brought about as a consequence to the Alder Hey organs scandal,[1] in which organs of children had been retained by the Alder Hey Children's Hospital without consent.
The act allows for anonymous organ donation (previously, living people could only donate organs to those with which they had a genetic or emotional connection),[2] and requires licenses for those intending to publicly display human remains, such as BODIES... The Exhibition.[3] The act also specifies that in cases of organ donation after death the wishes of the deceased takes precedence over the wishes of relatives,[4] but a parliamentary report concluded in 2006 that the act likely would fail in this regard since most surgeons would be unwilling to confront families in such situations.[5]
The act prohibits selling organs. In 2007 a man became the first person convicted under the act for trying to sell his kidney online for £24,000 in order to pay off his gambling debts.[6]
The act does not extend to Scotland, its counterpart there is the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006.
References
- ^ a b "Q&A: Human Tissue Act". BBC News Online. 30 August 2006. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
- ^ "Strangers allowed to give organs". BBC News Online. 25 April 2006.
- ^ "Body parts shows to need licences". BBC News Online. 15 May 2006.
- ^ "Radical changes for organ donors". BBC News Online. 31 August 2006.
- ^ "Transplant law 'likely to fail'". BBC News Online. 15 October 2006.
- ^ Stephanie Condron (11 May 2007). "Gambler tried to sell his kidney online". The Daily Telegraph.
Further reading
- Bell MD (2006). "The UK Human Tissue Act and consent: surrendering a fundamental principle to transplantation needs?". J Med Ethics. 32 (5): 283–6. doi:10.1136/jme.2005.012666. PMC 2579415. PMID 16648279.
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