Brains for dementia research

The latest of BDR's ethics training days was held in Bristol on 9th November 2011, attended in the main by clinicians taking part in the recruitment and assessment of potential donors. Some technicians and managers working in hospital mortuaries also attended.

After an introduction by BDR director Professor Paul Francis on the importance of clinical studies and the collection of donated tissue for research, Professor Jonathan Montgomery of the University of Southampton spoke on the legal aspects of consent as defined in the Human Tissue Act.

Dr Julian Sheather, deputy head of ethics at the British Medical Association, spoke on the capacity to give consent, as set out in the Mental Capacity Act.

Fiona Murphy, recently Nursing Standard "Nurse of the Year", is involved in bereavement and donor support in Bolton and spoke of her work in promoting patient choice and dignity in bereavement care and tissue donation, uniquely linking these two historically separate areas.

The perspective of donation from a relative and carer's point of view was given by Susan Marshfield, a trustee of BRACE - a Bristol charity that raises funds to support dementia research. Susan gave a moving account of her experience caring for her husband and going through the process of brain donation.

Participants took part in several case studies where families had conflicting ideas about how to deal with the issue of consent to donation, and what a professional might need to do to resolve the situation.

If you have any queries about our training courses or on ethical or other issues please contact the Brains for Dementia Research Coordinating Centre on 020 7848 8377 or email us at bdr.office@kcl.ac.uk

Useful links

Human Tissue Authority, revised Codes of Practice

Mental Capacity Act, Code of Practice