Bill Overview
Title: Consensual Donation and Research Integrity Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires entities that acquire or transfer human bodies or body parts for education, research, or the advancement of medical, dental, or mortuary science to register with the Department of Health and Human Services. Registered entities must comply with record-keeping, labeling, packaging, and disposition requirements. The registration and related requirements do not apply to (1) the acquisition or transfer of human bodies or body parts for use in human transplantation, or (2) the preparation, transportation, and final disposition of human bodies or body parts by funeral service professionals.
Sponsors: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Target Audience
Population: Entities acquiring or transferring human bodies for education, research or medical purposes
Estimated Size: 1000
- The bill focuses on entities dealing with human bodies or body parts for education, research, or science, excluding those for human transplantation or handled by funeral services.
- These registered entities include universities, research organizations, and institutions involved in scientific studies requiring human specimens.
- There are likely many scientific and educational entities globally that utilize human corpses or body parts for research and educational purposes.
- This legislation aims to ensure ethical standards across such entities, thereby potentially impacting a wide range of international institutions that wish to comply when collaborating with US bodies.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily targets institutions and entities rather than individuals, focusing on ethical practices in the treatment and use of human remains in research and education.
- To create a representative sample, I included academics, researchers, students, and professionals who might be indirectly influenced by changes in research integrity.
- I incorporated individuals from different geographical areas and professional backgrounds to cover diverse impacts across the country.
- Each simulated individual is evaluated based on whether their institution needs to adjust to comply with new regulatory requirements, which may impact their work conditions and overall well-being.
Simulated Interviews
University Researcher (Boston, MA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe these regulations will add clarity and uniform standards that benefit research integrity.
- Our university already adheres to strict ethical standards, and this will reinforce those efforts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Medical Student (Raleigh, NC)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's vital to ensure good legal and ethical practices as I start my medical career. This policy is reassuring for the future.
- However, I hope these regulations don't burden the educational process.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Biotech Company Executive (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our industry must uphold the highest ethical standards, and this regulation helps.
- Adapting compliance measures might be initially burdensome, but it's for the greater good.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Funeral Director (Houston, TX)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's important for research ethics, even if this doesn't directly affect our operations.
- I foresee more respect and trust in research projects and institutions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Ethics Professor (Chicago, IL)
Age: 50 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a step forward in aligning research practices with ethical expectations.
- I expect to see positive contributions to the discourse on bioethics.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Policy Analyst (New York, NY)
Age: 44 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Regulation is often necessary for supporting trust in scientific institutions.
- I am curious about the practical implementation and its impacts on affected entities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Graduate Student (Austin, TX)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this policy aligns with my studies focused on ethical standards.
- It increases my confidence in continuing research work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Human Rights Advocate (Seattle, WA)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm supportive as this promotes transparency, preventing unethical practices.
- Advocacy for integrity will likely improve public trust.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Clinical Research Coordinator (Denver, CO)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Clear policies aid in maintaining consistent ethical standards.
- It might improve the quality of research output and attract more collaborations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Science Journalist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a journalist, I view this as a significant development in science policy.
- These regulations should be widely discussed to raise awareness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 2: $18000000 (Low: $14000000, High: $22000000)
Year 3: $17000000 (Low: $13000000, High: $21000000)
Year 5: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $18000000)
Year 10: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 100: $100000 (Low: $80000, High: $120000)
Key Considerations
- Ensuring ethical standards in the use of human bodies for research can enhance public trust and credibility of scientific results.
- Initial administrative costs are expected, but long-term benefits in ethical research practices could outweigh these costs.