Post mortem quotes and endorsements

Quotes and endorsements relevant to the post mortem sector.

2009

Terry Johnson, Mortuary Manager, Hull Royal Infirmary, said: “The HTA listens to what my profession says, and they welcome different points of view.”

2008

Professor Peter Furness, President of the Royal College of Pathologists, said: “When the Human Tissue Act 2004 was first introduced, pathologists were very concerned that increased restrictions and bureaucracy might limit the work they do for patients. In practice, we have seen the Human Tissue Authority developing a sophisticated and proportionate approach to their task. Whilst the process of licensing mortuaries and laboratories has added to the workload, regulation has resulted in numerous welcome improvements.

“In most cases the HTA inspection reports have identified problems we already knew about, but they have given a welcome impetus to implementing improvements. The process has also been of undoubted value in ensuring that pathologists understand the current social, ethical and legal requirements involved in working with human tissue. We believe that the overall result is a service which justifies public and professional confidence. By working together, the HTA and the Royal College of Pathologists can ensure that guidance is sensible, proportionate, coordinated and is used to help us to work to the highest possible standards. The Royal College of Pathologists exists primarily to improve standards within pathology, so naturally we welcome this.”

2007

Iain Johnstone, Mortuary Manager, St James Paget University Hospital in Norfolk, said: “The HTA is important not just from a legal point of view, but also to translate the law into practice. I am certain that HTA regulation has driven up standards in my field. One of the most important services the HTA offers is guidance and I know there is always someone at the end of the phone or by email to answer technical questions.”

2006

Professor Adrian Newland, President of The Royal College of Pathologists, said: “I was very pleased that the College were encouraged to be actively involved in the development of the Human Tissue Bill and that many, although not all, of our concerns were taken into account in its progress to the Act. Our continuing input into the Authority should give confidence to our members that the pathology community are actively involved in the implementation of the Act and that this is not purely legislation imposed from outside. I see this as a further step in restoring public confidence in the use of human tissues and hopefully will support the revitalisation of tissue-based clinical research.

“My own personal experience of the licensing of banks storing tissue for human application by the HTA has been encouraging and I have every confidence that the scheme will work smoothly with minimal disruption.”

Professor James Ironside, Professor of Clinical Neuropathology at the University of Edinburgh and Human Tissue Authority Mmber, said: “Medical research is critically dependent on studying diseases in human tissues. The regulatory framework of the Human Tissue Authority will give researchers confidence that this essential work can take place with consent from the patient or relatives, and give the public confidence that medical research is based on the principle of consent.”

Professor El-Nasir Lalani, Professor of Molecular and Cellular Pathology at Imperial College London and Honorary Consultant Histopathologist at Hammersmith Hospitals Trust, and Human Tissue Authority Member, said: “Our understanding of disease processes and the development of new therapies is critically dependent on the availability of human tissues for research. The Human Tissue Authority’s regulatory framework aims to provide a balanced approach of meeting the needs of the research community whilst maintaining public confidence.”

Professor Sir James Underwood, Professor of Pathology at the University of Sheffield and Consultant Histopathologist to the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Human Tissue Authority Member, said: “Patients, their families and the public can now have greater confidence in the arrangements for storing and using human tissue for research and education. Licensing and codes of practice have also created a framework in which post-mortem examinations can be performed to fully and reliably determine causes of death, the extent of disease and the safety and effectiveness of new treatments.”