Last updated on 05 Dec 2024
Code A: Annex B - Consent
Consent requirements for scheduled purposes Under the Human Tissue Act
This guidance outlines when consent is required for various scheduled purposes, covering both living and deceased human tissue.
For Living Donors
Consent for removal is generally required under common law, rather than the Human Tissue Act.
Storage and use consent is required for:
- Scientific/medical information gathering
- Public display
- Research into disorders and human body functioning
- Transplantation
For Deceased Donors
Consent is required for all activities (removal, storage, and use) for the following purposes:
- Anatomical examination
- Determining cause of death (except under coroner authority)
- Establishing treatment efficacy
- Scientific/medical information gathering
- Public display
- Research into disorders and human body functioning
- Transplantation
- Clinical audit
- Education or training
- Performance assessment
- Public health monitoring
- Quality assurance
Important Notes
Activities involving living donors that don't require HT Act consent for storage and use:
- Clinical audit
- Education or training
- Performance assessment
- Public health monitoring
- Quality assurance
Special Considerations:
- Coroner investigations into cause of death do not require consent
- Removal of tissue from living donors always requires common law consent, regardless of purpose
This information is based on the Human Tissue Act requirements and associated regulations.
A table version of this information is available below.
