title: BrainNet Europe's Code of Conduct for brain banking.
abstract: Research utilizing human tissue and its removal at post-mortem has given rise to many controversies in the media and posed many dilemmas in the fields of law and ethics. The law often lacks clear instructions and unambiguous guidelines. The absence of a harmonized international legislation with regard to post-mortem medical procedures and donation of tissue and organs contributes to the complexity of the issue. Therefore, within the BrainNet Europe (BNE) consortium, a consortium of 19 European brain banks, we drafted an ethical Code of Conduct for brain banking that covers basic legal rules and bioethical principles involved in brain banking. Sources include laws, regulations and guidelines (Declarations, Conventions, Recommendations, Guidelines and Directives) issued by international key organizations, such as the Council of Europe, European Commission, World Medical Association and World Health Organization. The Code of Conduct addresses fundamental topics as the rights of the persons donating their tissue, the obligations of the brain bank with regard to respect and observance of such rights, informed consent, confidentiality, protection of personal data, collections of human biological material and their management, and transparency and accountability within the organization of a brain bank. The Code of Conduct for brain banking is being adopted by the BNE network prior to being enshrined in official legislation for brain banking in Europe and beyond.
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Brain Bank, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Natasja M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Klioueva
authors.forename: Marleen C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rademaker
authors.forename: David T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Dexter
authors.forename: Safa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Sarraj
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seilhean
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Streichenberger
authors.forename: Peer
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: Jeanne E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ironside
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arzberger
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Huitinga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D032781:Codes of Ethics; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000473:pathology; D000069338:Neuropathology; D014015:Tissue Banks / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards*