AVAILABILITY OF HUMAN TISSUES FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH

That this House recognises the immense value of human tissue to medical research and the development of safe and effective medicines; regrets that researchers, both academic and commercial, struggle to obtain the tissues they need; and calls on the Government to facilitate the donation, retrieval and supply of this life-saving and life-enhancing resource through a number of measures, including the provision of the necessary infrastructure in hospitals, reducing the level of bureaucracy involved, working to increase awareness amongst the public and the health professions of the overwhelming need for tissues and giving all patients the opportunity to donate for research surplus tissues from surgery, which would otherwise be incinerated, if they wish to do so.