No consent should be needed for using leftover body material for scientific purposes

摘要

In Britain the Alder Hey scandal brought to public attention the fact that body material left over after diagnostic procedures may be used for teaching and research―usually without the patient's consent. Paul van Diest argues that, Alder Hey apart, this practice has not caused protest, mainly because the alternative would be to discard the material. He argues that self determination is not an overriding principle in the case of material that is otherwise thrown away. Julian Savulescu, however, cites cases where patients have felt "used" when their tissue has been kept without their consent. He argues that the best way to retain tissue for research is through educating and encouraging people to donate their redundant tissues, not by taking them without their knowledge.