H.R.2589 - Consensual Donation and Research Integrity Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.2589, the Consensual Donation and Research Integrity Act of 2025, aims to amend the Public Health Service Act. The goal is to ensure that human bodies and body parts donated for education, research, or the advancement of medical, dental, or mortuary science are handled respectfully and with proper consent, specifically excluding use in human transplantation. The bill introduces registration requirements for entities that acquire human bodies and sell them for profit, along with regulations for inspections, record-keeping, labeling, packaging, and limitations on the use and disclosure of donor information.
Expected Effects
The bill will likely increase oversight and regulation of the handling of donated human remains used for research and education. This will create a framework for accountability and transparency in the acquisition, use, and disposition of human bodies and body parts. It may also increase costs for businesses involved in this area due to compliance requirements.
Potential Benefits
- Increased Transparency: Requires registration and detailed record-keeping for entities dealing with human remains.
- Enhanced Consent: Mandates documentation of informed consent from donors.
- Improved Safety: Establishes labeling and packaging requirements to mitigate contamination and safety hazards.
- Protection of Donor Information: Limits the use and disclosure of personally identifiable information.
- Respectful Disposition: Ensures proper disposition of human remains, either by returning them to family or through contracted arrangements.
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased Costs: Registration fees and compliance requirements may increase operational costs for affected businesses.
- Administrative Burden: The need for detailed record-keeping and reporting could create an administrative burden.
- Potential for Reduced Supply: Stricter regulations might reduce the availability of human bodies and body parts for research and education.
- Enforcement Challenges: Ensuring compliance and enforcing the regulations could pose challenges for the Secretary.
- Possible unintended consequences: The bill could inadvertently hinder legitimate research if regulations are overly burdensome.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the general welfare clause of the Constitution, as it seeks to promote ethical practices in medical research and education. It does not appear to infringe upon any specific individual rights or freedoms protected by the Bill of Rights. The regulation of interstate commerce through the registration requirement falls under the powers granted to Congress in Article I, Section 8.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).