The Ethical guidelines for cell, tissue and organ donation and transplantation in Australia (the Guidelines) provide a framework to support ethical practice and inform decision-making by all those involved in Australia’s donation and transplantation system.
The Guidelines are intended for use by:
- health professionals and others involved in the donation, transplantation, manufacture, allocation, distribution, and custodianship of human cells, tissues and organs
- potential donors and recipients of transplanted cells, tissues and organs, and their families, carers, and communities
- public and private institutions, such as hospitals, donation services, eye banks, umbilical cord blood banks, tissue banks, tissue manufacturers, and donor or transplant recipient registries
- governments and regulatory bodies.
The ethical principles in the Guidelines are aligned with community expectations that altruistic donations of human cells, tissues and organs are treated respectfully, shared equitably, and used effectively for the benefit of all. They are consistent with established ethical and legal norms governing healthcare practice in Australia, and with respect for human rights and the rights of all individuals as patients receiving healthcare.
The Guidelines are available to read and download from Ethical guidelines for cell, tissue and organ donation and transplantation in Australia.
In 2017, NHMRC commenced a review of 5 existing guidelines for organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
- Organ and tissue donation after death, for transplantation – Guidelines for ethical practice for health professionals, 2007
- Making a decision about organ and tissue donation after death, 2007
- Organ and tissue donation by living donors – Guidelines for ethical practice for health professionals, 2007
- Making a decision about living organ and tissue donation, 2007
- Ethical guidelines for organ transplantation from deceased donors, 2016.
The new consolidated and expanded Ethical guidelines for cell, tissue and organ donation and transplantation in Australia, which replace the existing guidelines, are the product of a collaboration between the Australian Health Ethics Committee (AHEC) and the Organ and Tissue Authority, with input from clinical professionals, ethics experts and the community.
