Consensual Donation and Research Integrity Act of 2023
If enacted, the bill will impose registration requirements on any entity acquiring human bodies or body parts for profit, mandating them to register with the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This includes annual renewal of registrations and adherence to strict record-keeping protocols. The newly defined standards will help facilitate education and research, ensuring compliance with federal regulations while also addressing ethical considerations in the use of human remains.
House Bill 4275, titled the 'Consensual Donation and Research Integrity Act of 2023', aims to amend the Public Health Service Act. The bill seeks to ensure that human bodies and body parts donated for education, research, or the advancement of medical, dental, or mortuary science are treated with respect and the process is consensual. This act particularly focuses on establishing standards surrounding these donations, distinct from uses in human transplantation, thereby carving out specific regulations in the handling of such donations.
The bill has faced scrutiny regarding its implications for the treatment and rights of donors and their families. Concerns have been raised about whether the proposed regulatory framework will adequately protect the dignity of the deceased and the wishes of the donors. There is also a discussion surrounding the potential burdens placed on educational and research institutions which might be required to adapt to new compliance measures, which could be financially and logistically taxing. These discussions highlight the ongoing tension between regulatory oversight and operational flexibility within the realm of medical research and education.