Acceptance of donor consent for anatomical examination

Medical school staff are sometimes faced with the challenge of deciding whether the consent given by potential donors, often many years before their death, is valid if it contains colloquial terminology and not the specific terms stated in the Human Tissue Act 2004 (the HT Act). This document aims to provide guidance on the circumstances under which the consent may be deemed acceptable and can be acted upon.

Regulation of faecal microbiota transplant

Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is recognised as an emerging treatment for recurrent Clostridium difficile infections in patients where antibiotic and other lines of treatment have failed.

FMT is outside the scope of the Human Tissue (Quality and Safety for Human Application) Regulations, 2007 (as amended) and is not regulated by the HTA.

Establishments seeking to perform FMT should contact the MHRA Medicines Borderline Section for further advice.