Department of Health

Website of the Department of Health

Please note that this website has a UK government access keys system.

Tissue general information

Guidance, codes of practice and key documents on the clinical, psychological, administrative and legal aspects of removing, retaining and using human organs and tissue.

Families and post mortems: a code of practice, forms and information leaflets

February 2007:

The Human Tissue Authority (HTA) has been set up to regulate the removal, storage, use and disposal of human bodies, organs and tissues for a number of scheduled purposes including determining the cause of death.  The HTA is responsible for giving advice and guidance on the Human Tissue Act (2004).  It has issued codes of practice to give practical guidance and lay down the standards expected by those carrying out activities which lie within the HTA's remit.

The HTA Code of Practice on Post Mortem Examination updates and replaces Families and post mortems : a code of practice (and related information leaflets and forms) produced by the Department of Health in April 2003

Human Tissue Act 2004 information

Following consultation, the Government introduced legislation in the 2003/2004 Parliamentary session to regulate the removal, storage and use of Human Organs and Tissue. The Human Tissue Act 2004 received Royal Assent on 15th November 2004.

Overview and background

In 2001, the Government accepted the Chief Medical Officer's recommendations in "The Removal, Retention and Use of Human Organs and Tissue from Post-Mortem Examination: Advice from the Chief Medical Officer". The guidance and other documents listed in this section seek to give reassurance to clinicians and the public about the proper procedures and use of tissue. Also available is a video "Parents and Post mortems," produced by parents and doctors to help explain why a post mortem may be needed after a child's death. A video on the procedures for adult post mortem examination is also planned.

December 2004: Q and A on disposal following pregnancy loss before 24 weeks

There has been a growing demand by NHS Trusts for comprehensive, up to date advice on the disposal of fetal tissue from pregnancies that end before the 24th week of gestation. In response to this need, the Department of Health, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and others have worked together to produce advice in the form of "question & answers" on this sensitive issue. The advice: sets out the different disposal options available to NHS Trusts; reminds them of the need to make information available to families; and emphasises the importance of personal choice and decision making. Representatives from the main professional and voluntary organisations working in this field were involved in the development of this document and have all agreed and endorsed it.

March 2004

Home Office published the position paper Reforming the Coroner and Death Certification service

December 2003

The Government has published the Human Tissue Bill.

September 2003

Publication of a reader-friendly leaflet "Proposals for new legislation on human organs and tissue" setting out our plans for a proposed Human Tissue Bill in more detail.

The use of human organs and tissue: an interim statement

Published: 25/04/2003

This statement is aimed at being a guide to clinicians, researchers, research ethics committees and others around the areas that most frequently give rise to uncertainty in the use of human organs. This is an interim framework pending legislation

The import and export of human body parts and tissue for non-therapeutic uses: a code of practice

Published: 25/04/2003

The aims of the code are to ensure that body parts and other human tissue used in medical research and education have been obtained ethically, that the appropriate consents have been obtained, and that they have been subject to screening to minimise the risk of infection. The code offers guidance as to good practice in this field.

Human bodies, human choices: summary of responses to the consultation report

231 written responses were received to this consultation.

Good Practice in Consent Implementation Guide: Consent to Examination or Treatment

Published: 11/11/2002

There have been wider changes in the way in which patients are asked to give their consent to treatment, care or research. The need for changes to consent processes for these areas was identified in the NHS Plan (published in 2000), the aim being to ensure that the process of obtaininginformed consent is properly focussed on the rights of individual patients and their relatives. The Department's Reference guide to consent for examination or treatment was published in March 2001.

Scoping review into psychological aspects of organ and tissue retention

Published: 11/11/2002

The NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination in York was asked to scan literature about the psychological aspects of organ and tissue retention as a first step to helping NHS trusts improve bereavement services for families involved in organ retention cases.

Contacts

Queries about the interim statement on the use of human organs and on the summary of consultation responses should be addressed to Neil.Moors@doh.gsi.gov.uk Queries on the other documents should be addressed to Christopher.Cox@doh.gsi.gov.uk or clare.lynley@doh.gsi.gov.uk

Access keys