Scientists criticise proposed tissue law
Leading scientists claim a law drafted in the wake of the Alder Hey organ scandal could blight legitimate research projects.
The Human Tissue Bill, which is close to becoming law, is to prevent organs being taken without relatives’ consent. It makes no discrimination between whole organs and a collection of a few cells on a microscope slide and makes taking any kind of human tissue without consent an offence.
Dr Mark Walport, director of the Wellcome Trust, which spends more than £400 million on medical research each year, says this creates an impossible situation for mainstream researchers.
“We agree there should be legislation to ensure there is proper permission for organs taken during post mortems. But we do not believe the same requirements should apply to blood samples or pieces of tissue removed during surgery which are then used, anonymously, for research.”
He is calling for the parts of the Bill dealing with tissue samples taken from living patients to be delayed for further consideration.
Professor Peter Furness, a pathologist from the University of Leicester, said that more than three million samples were taken annually from living patients – and more than 100 million blood samples.
However, Health minister Rosie Winterton pointed out that the legislation had earned the support of the General Medical Council – the body which regulates doctors, as well as patient groups.
She said: “It will provide certainty and confidence for the public, patients and their families, doctors and researchers – to ensure that the donation of organs and tissue for valuable medical research is supported by a clear framework of consent…Science and research will flourish only if we proceed with the support of patients and society in this way.”
