Anatomy

The HTA licenses establishments in the anatomy sector to provide assurance to the public that bodies or tissue from the deceased are given with proper consent, and are used appropriately. As the regulator, the HTA cannot promote body donation but we do provide the public with support and information about body donation.

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People must decide, and provide written and witnessed consent before they die, if they would like to donate their bodies to medical science. Information about regulation in Scotland is provided by Health Scotland.

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Updated on 08 Jan, 2025

Anatomy Licensing Standards and Guidance

The purpose of this guidance is to assist licensed establishments to meet the HTA’s licensing standards. The documents contain additional information and exam...
Updated on 03 May, 2023

Acceptance of donor consent for anatomical examination

Medical school staff are sometimes faced with the challenge of deciding whether the consent given by potential donors, often many years before their death, is...
Updated on 03 May, 2023

Improving body donation information to support informed consent

Guidance on how establishments can improve their body donation information.
Updated on 06 Nov, 2023

Model consent forms for anatomy schools

This page contains model consent forms, bequeathal booklet and a donor card template for HTA licensed anatomy schools
Updated on 04 May, 2023

Storage of human material for teaching by schools and colleges

Some schools and colleges store human material for use in teaching. Such specimens could include cells on a microscope slide, specimens preserved in formalin,...
Updated on 04 May, 2023

Sale of bodies, body parts and tissue policy

The HTA regulates organisations that remove, store and use human tissue for research, patient treatment, post-mortem examination, anatomical examination, surg...
Updated on 11 Oct, 2023

Filming or photographing of bodies or body parts that have been donated

This guidance is for anyone considering filming or taking photographs of a body or body parts donated to a medical school or surgical training centre, or acti...
Updated on 27 Sep, 2024

Consent exemptions under the Human Tissue Act 2004

This section explains the consent exemptions from the Human Tissue Act (2004) (HT Act).
Updated on 25 Jan, 2024

Disposal of anatomical specimens

Disposal of relevant material is one of the statutory activities within the remit of the Human Tissue Authority (HTA). However, the Human Tissue Act 2004 (HT...