Authorisation for Ante-Mortem Procedures to Preserve Tissue for Transplantation
Human Tissue Amendment (Ante-mortem Interventions) Bill 2023
1st House
2nd House
Law
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
Hospital designated officers can authorise medical procedures before death to keep tissue viable for transplant.
The potential donor must provide consent; otherwise, a senior available next of kin can consent if the donor lacks capacity.
Designated officers can authorise the procedure without next-of-kin consent if they find written evidence the donor wanted the tissue removed.
A designated officer cannot authorise the procedure unless a specialist certifies that death is expected; the procedure must not hasten death or cause more than minimal harm.
The law establishes a hierarchy for next of kin; for adults, this starts with a spouse, then adult children, parents, and adult siblings.
This authority overrides the Guardianship Act 1987; it does not apply if a legal guardian has consented to treatment that is incompatible with the procedure.