Chamber and committees

Melissa OSullivan submission of 25 January 2022

PE1911/F - Review of Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006 as it relates to post-mortems

I believe there should be an opt out system with post mortems, unless under suspicious circumstances of course. Just like the organ donation opt out system, this should apply to post mortems also. In keeping with this, post mortems should be standardised to torso only, anything beyond this should require consent from next of kin if applicable.

I am in favour for all tissue sample being offered back to next of kin in all circumstances, as in keeping with UK Government standards.

I am a nurse practitioner, I understand the need for research, however consent should always be given from the next of kin if these samples are to be used for research. We have choices for everything we do in life, so why do we not have a choice when it comes to human tissues?

Please change this law!