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Redirecting remaining samples

Should a donor be allowed to redirect research on his/her remaining (linked) tissue samples for future personal use (e.g., new diagnostic testing)? TAWG is one group that recommends this option for donors. Also, TAWG (2003) asked, "If a patient donates residual tissue that is not needed for immediate diagnostics, does the patient have the option of requesting the tissue for future personal use, for example to be subject to technologically advanced diagnostics heretofore unknown?" TAWG suggested that one good reason for requesting a return of tissue might be to predict metastatic recurrence. There are some potential problems with limiting the use of tissue for specific types of research or redirecting it in the future. If the tissue is unlinked, donor control is severed since the donor's tissue can no longer be identified.