Human Tissue Authority statement on respectful interment of retained organs, foetuses and tissue samples

Human Tissue Authority media statement

Issue date: 18 January 2010

Adrian McNeil, Chief Executive of the HTA said:

”Much has changed in the ten years since organs, foetuses and tissue samples were found to have been retained without the knowledge and consent of the families involved. The Human Tissue Authority began regulating in 2006 under the Human Tissue Act by introducing clear rules that govern the removal, storage, use and disposal of human tissue. The public should be confident that consent is central to the regulatory framework we have created and that human tissue is being taken, used and disposed of ethically and respectfully.

“All establishments licensed by the HTA must comply with our standards for the disposal of human tissue. The HTA recently inspected Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and found that it is achieving high standards and fully complying with our codes of practice and the guidance that we have issued.“

END

For more information please contact Claire Bithell, Senior Media Advisor at the Human Tissue Authority on 0207 211 3439 or claire.bithell@hta.gov.uk

Notes for editors:

• The HTA code of practice on Disposal of human tissue is available from our website
• The Human Tissue Authority (HTA) is a watchdog that supports public confidence by licensing organisations that store and use human tissue for purposes such as research, patient treatment, post-mortem examination, teaching, and public exhibitions. We also give approval for organ and bone marrow donations from living people.