Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006
| Act of Parliament | |
| Long title | An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision in relation to activities involving human tissue. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2006 asp 4 |
| Territorial extent | Scotland |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 16 March 2006 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Act 2019 |
| Relates to | Human Tissue Act 2004 |
Status: Amended | |
| Text of the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 4) is an Act of the Scottish Parliament enacted to consolidate and modernise the legal framework governing the removal, retention, and use of human tissue in Scotland. It replaces earlier legislation, including aspects of the Anatomy Act 1984, and addresses ethical and legal concerns that had emerged in the early 2000s concerning the treatment of human remains. The Act regulates three principal uses of human tissue: its donation—primarily for transplantation, but also for research, education or training, and audit purposes; its removal, retention and use following a post-mortem examination; and its regulated use in anatomical examination and display.
By introducing the principle of "authorisation" (analogous to "consent" in other jurisdictions), the Act aims to ensure that an individual's wishes regarding the use of their body or body parts after death are respected. Its provisions represent a distinct legal approach from that adopted elsewhere in the United Kingdom, where the comparable legislation is the Human Tissue Act 2004.