The UK Human Tissue Authority has issued fresh guidance for people donating organs for transplantation, amid concern that there is now a “higher risk” of people trying to profit from supplying them.

The new framework for assessment of directed altruistic donations was published on 10 September.1

In the guidance the authority describes the steps it will take to ensure that people are not pressured or coerced into donating organs, are not seeking reward, and have the capacity to give consent.

While most donors act to benefit the health of the recipient, says the authority, “we cannot ignore the rare, but very serious cases …