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Why surgical patients do not donate tissue for commercial research: review of records

BMJ 2003; 327 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.327.7409.262 (Published 31 July 2003) Cite this as: BMJ 2003;327:262
  1. Alison L Jack, senior pathology liaison nurse1,
  2. Christopher Womack, consultant histopathologist1
  1. 1Department of Cellular Pathology, Peterborough District Hospital, Peterborough PE3 6DA
  1. Correspondence to: C Womack
  • Accepted 9 May 2003

Introduction

The tissue bank at Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust provides a legal, ethical, and safe supply of human tissue mainly to the commercial biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors. A trained research nurse interviews surgical patients, and, with consent, tissue surplus to diagnostic needs is collected and supplied to clients.1 2

We expected that commercial use of tissue might deter some patients from donating.1 We did the study primarily to find out why patients declined to donate tissue and whether involvement of commercial companies was an influencing factor. Other reviews of patient attitudes in this area have not concentrated on the commercial aspects of research.3 4

Participants, methods, and results

Preoperative interviews lasting between 15 and 30 minutes on the ward or sometimes in the clinic were done by a research nurse with patients. Verbal and written information about the tissue bank was given. The process of …

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