Communication difficulties - Tissue - deceased donors

Essential information

Obligatory

1. All persons giving consent must:
   1. Fully understand the donation process.
   2. Give their informed consent to the process and to the testing of the donor's blood for diseases that may affect the suitability of their tissues for use.
      
      
2. Third party interpreters:
   If they are to be present at any part of the selection procedure where there is an exchange of confidential information between the persons giving consent and the qualified healthcare professional, they must:
   1. Understand the importance of providing an accurate and truthful translation of the information provided, to enable the tissue/cell establishment to comply with regulatory requirements.
   2. Not be personally known to the donor or to the persons giving consent.
   3. Fully understand their duty of confidentiality and the confidential nature of any information obtained from the donor.

Supporting information

Additional information

The UK Blood and Tissue Services are aware of their duties under Race Relations and Disability Discrimination Legislation and will, whenever and wherever reasonable, try to provide facilities for individuals whose first language is not English, or who have other difficulties in communicating. Potential donors with such difficulties are advised to seek advice from their local Blood and Tissue Service before offering to donate stem cells to see if their needs can be met.

Any persons giving consent must:

1. Undergo a personal interview performed by a healthcare professional.
2. Provide informed consent to proceed with the donation process. This consent must be given in the presence of the qualified healthcare professional responsible for obtaining the health history. The qualified healthcare professional may be physically present or in communication with the person giving consent by telephone.

A qualified healthcare professional may assist in the completion of the health and medical history questionnaire and in understanding the consent statement and any other information provided by the Tissue Service. To facilitate comprehension, it is permissible to use alternative formats (e.g. a language other than English, audio, computer, Braille) for the information leaflets, the health and medical history questionnaire and consent statements. The persons giving consent must be able to clearly demonstrate they have understood this material. At present, there is no standardised way of assessing comprehension so this will be a personal judgement made by the qualified healthcare professional.

Use of third party interpreters:

It is permissible for any third party to act as an enabler by helping to reassure the persons giving consent and to assist in establishing effective communication between them and the qualified healthcare professional. The third party must not however be present during any exchange of confidential information, unless they are not personally known to the persons giving consent or to the donor and understand the need to accurately and truthfully communicate all the information, including personal and confidential information, provided by the person giving consent. Confidential parts of the process include the evaluation of the health and medical history questionnaire, the medical interview and the obtaining of valid consent.

Rationale:

There is concern that the use of third parties during any exchange of confidential information between the persons giving consent and the qualified healthcare professional may compromise the confidentiality of the process and the safety of any tissue donated. Interpreters are often part of a close community, or a family member, and this may inhibit or embarrass the persons giving consent in any confidential exchange of information. This may result in the non-disclosure of sensitive information that could affect the eligibility of the deceased person to donate. If a third party is not fully aware of the need to accurately and truthfully communicate all the information, including personal and confidential information, provided by the person giving consent, this may make the interpretation of information incomplete and potentially put any tissue donated at risk. There is also a requirement to communicate the results of any testing performed by the Tissue Services that may be of relevance to the donor's partner/family's health in a way that protects their confidentiality. The continuing availability of an independent interpreter, to maintain confidentiality, should be taken into account when deciding if an individual donor may be accepted.

Reason for change:

1. To clarify that interpreters and translators do not need to understand all the regulatory requirements of the Human Tissue Act, but are aware of the importance of providing a truthful and accurate translation to enable the tissue/cell establishment to comply with regulatory requirements. 2. To clarify that interpreters and translators have a duty of confidentiality. 3. To clarify that consent for donation need not be signed by the person giving consent, it can be taken by telephone.

Version details:

TD-DSG Edition 203 Release 20 (17 March 2015)