Human Tissue Act and Tissue Donation

Question 1

At which hospital did the organ retention scandal take place?

Answer 1

Alder Hey children’s hospital, Liverpool

Question 2

The organ retention scandal of Alder Hey hospital led to public outcry and a full investigation which produced what report?

Answer 2

The Redfern Report

Question 3

What does the Human Tissue Act 2004 regulate?

Answer 3

The removal, storage, and use of human tissue in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Question 4

Which piece of legislation covers Wales’ Opt-out position?

Answer 4

Human Transplantation (Wales) Act 2013.

Question 5

Which piece of legislation covers England’s Opt-out position?

Answer 5

Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Act 2019

Question 6

What are the 3 principle functions of the Human Tissue Authority?

Answer 6

1. To issue Codes of Practice
2. To issue licenses and inspect establishments
3. To approve living organ and bone marrow donations

Question 7

Where are the ‘scheduled purposes’ contained in the Human Tissue Act? List 5.

Answer 7

Schedule 1 of the HTAct.

1. Anatomical examination
2. Determining cause of death
3. Public display
4. Transplantation
5. Education or training relating to human health.

Question 8

What is Code A in the Codes of Practice in the HTAct?

Answer 8

Guiding principles and the fundamental principle of consent.

Question 9

What is Code C in the Codes of Practice in the HTAct?

Answer 9

Anatomical examination.

Question 10

What is Code E in the Codes of Practice in the HTAct?

Answer 10

Research

Question 11

What are the 4 principles the HTAct is founded on?

Answer 11

1. Consent
2. Dignity
3. Quality
4. Honesty and Openness

Question 12

Licensing by the Human Tissue Authority is covered in which part of the HTAct?

Answer 12

Part 2, Sections 16-25.

Question 13

In the HTAct, what is the definition of ‘anatomical examination’.

Answer 13

The use of donated bodies to teach anatomy by dissection.

Question 14

What does Section 5 of the HTAct state?

Answer 14

It makes it an offence to undertake scheduled activities without appropriate consent.

Question 15

What is ‘appropriate consent’ for donation of a whole body for anatomical examination? What does Section 3 of the HTAct state about this?

Answer 15

Consent can only be given by individuals who choose to donate their body - nobody else can give this consent.

Section 3 states that it must be written consent:

• signed by person concerned in the presence of at least one witness;
• or signed at the direction of the person concerned, in his/her presence, and in the presence of at least one witness;
• or is contained within a will of the concerned person.

Question 16

What is covered in Part 2, Sections 16-25 of the HTAct?

Answer 16

Licensing by the HTAuthority.

Question 17

Where in the HTAct does it make it an offence to carry out scheduled activities without the appropriate consent?

Answer 17

Section 5.