Clause 44 - Preservation for transplantation
Human Tissue Bill
9:45 am
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury, Conservative)
This is a difficult but necessary clause because it will allow organs that are currently lost to be salvaged. It is quite controversial, particularly among those who might be engaged in harvesting such organs, several of whom are concerned about the ethical and legal implications for them. It is important to get the notion of consent clear, so that that category of people can feel comfortable that what they are doing is fair and reasonable.
We have exhaustively defined consent elsewhere in the Bill, and I am not clear about the word ''permission'', which we have not defined, although the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon implied that there was a common-usage understanding of the word. I would therefore resist an amendment that would substitute the word ''permission'' for ''consent''. I seek your guidance, Mr. Hurst: I assume that we will have a clause stand part debate, in which we may explore other issues.
The Chairman indicated assent.