Human Tissue Act 1985

In this section – conditions of consent means the conditions attached to – a consent for the performance of a non-coronial autopsy; or a consent for the removal of tissue for use for therapeutic, medical or scientific purposes during a non-coronial autopsy.

An authorisation given under section 26B is authority for a medical practitioner, other than the designated officer giving the authorisation, to – perform, in accordance with the conditions of consent, a non-coronial autopsy on the body of the deceased person specified in the authorisation; and remove such tissue from the deceased person during a non-coronial autopsy as is necessary for diagnostic purposes.

An authorisation given under section 26C is authority for – a medical practitioner, other than the designated officer giving the authorisation, to remove, in accordance with the conditions of consent, tissue from a deceased person during a non-coronial autopsy in accordance with the authorisation; and the removed tissue to be used, in accordance with the conditions of consent, for therapeutic, medical or scientific purposes.

If the same tissue is required for diagnostic purposes and for therapeutic, medical or scientific purposes, the tissue is to be used for diagnostic purposes first.