The HTA has produced a model consent form for professionals seeking consent for an adult or child's post mortem.

The practice may also take place in other areas of a hospital, for example special care baby units or paediatric wards.

It is the responsibility of Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) to take forward the guidance contained in WTtSC. These Boards are made up of senior managers from different services in a local area, including healthcare, social services, the police and the coroner’s service. All NHS Trust hospitals should be able to identify their LSCB contact for advice.

The HTA regulates organisations that remove, store and use human tissue for research, patient treatment, post-mortem examination, anatomical examination, surgical training and display in public. These activities require appropriate consent to be in place in order for them to lawfully take place, and a number of them are also licensable. Our code of practice on consent gives guidance on how to comply with the consent requirements of the Human Tissue Act 2004. 

The definition of relevant material in the Act is:

Section 53: Relevant material:

Guidance on filming or taking photographs within a mortuary setting.