Legislation prompted by the Alder Hey organ scandal has been published by ministers. The Human Tissue Bill proposes a regulating authority to make sure that consent is obtained before organs and tissues are kept by hospitals.

Nationwide checks showed that thousands of hearts, brains and other body parts had been retained without permission. New criminal offences of "trafficking" in body parts, or keeping tissues without consent will be created.

Forum Response: General Medical Council

Sir Graeme Catto, president of the General Medical Council, told ePolitix.com: "Our guidance, which applies to all registered doctors, states that doctors 'must obtain appropriate consent or authorisation before taking or retaining organs, tissues or body fluids from patients or volunteers for research purposes.' It is helpful that this legislation will clarify the legal obligation of doctors."

Forum Response: Councils of Heads of Medical Schools

Aideen Silke, policy officer at CHMS, told ePolitix.com: "Research using archived tissues blocks and slides has been an essential tool in furthering the understanding of disease and it is essential that this resource remains fully available to further medical research which is ultimately for the benefit of the patient.

"There is evidence to support the public faith in the use of pathological research in disease. Archived material is not only important in the case of an individual patient but has equally valuable benefits in public health surveillance, for example tracking of variant CJD cases. Recent advances in genetic knowledge have been aided by the ability of scientists to revisit tissue samples.

"CHMS is extremely concerned that the proposed legislation will threaten this irreplaceable resource. It is essential that any regulation does not compromise the future potential information that can be drawn from tissue blocks and slides, including those currently held in archives. It would seem counter the public good, given the known value of this resource to patient care, should the legislation insist that it must be destroyed."

Forum Response: SANE

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of SANE said: "We have called for clear directions and consent for relatives, and we are pleased that the government is clarifying what has been a murky area. There has been a great deal of distress, misinformation and stigma surrounding the donation of human brains, which has led to an acute shortage of brain tissue, demotivated scientists and delayed critical research which could improve treatments for and eventually prevent illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression. Without post-mortem research, we would not have L-Dopa for Parkinson's and the new drugs used in Alzheimer's disease."