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AATB Code of Ethics

American Association of Tissue Banks

The American Association of Tissue Banks is a professional organization dedicated to leadership, education, service, research, and integrity in the practice of tissue and cell procurement, processing, storage, distribution, transplantation, and related fields. All members of the American Association of Tissue Banks pledge to adhere to the following values:

· We strongly support voluntary tissue donation and informed choice. We provide information about donation options and transplantation, and we respect the decisions of donors and donor families. We offer public education to encourage informed decisions.

· As stewards of the gifts of donation, we are responsible for acting in accordance with the wishes of the donors and their families.

· We cooperate with other organizations to assure a coordinated approach in seeking consent for donation.

· We honor and treat with respect the gifts of donated human tissue and strive to maximize its use to save the lives, or to improve the quality of life for patients who require tissue transplants.

· We protect the confidentiality of donors, donor families, and recipients, releasing information only with proper consent or as required by public safety or legal obligations.

· We provide information to donor families about how their gifts were used.

· We strive to provide and maintain the highest quality of service in accordance with current scientific knowledge, established standards of care, and advancing technologies.

· We share knowledge and advances that may improve the quality, safety, and effectiveness of transplants.

· We act with the highest level of integrity and commit to fair, just, equitable, and legal standards of behavior in all relations with donor families, transplant recipients, other members of the Association, and the global community.

· We assure that our relationships with healthcare professionals and our business partnerships are structured to reflect these values and the altruism on which donation is founded to maintain public confidence in tissue banking.

· We respond in times of need to help meet shortages of transplant tissue.

· We promote AATB standards, accreditation, and certification.