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Handling profits

Profits back to the medical center for tissue collected there can present a conflict of interest if it motivates those who cut the tissue to cut more tissue simply to ramp up volume, for instance. Even when the profits are insignificant, it is important to separate profits from tissue collection from the operating budgets of medical centers. This is to protect the integrity of the medical center from the perception that it is balancing the books on patients' tissue remnants. Otherwise, when the budget is stretched, surgical patients may fear that their surgeon is incentivized to take more tissue than diagnostic procedures stipulate.

If profits are not returned to the medical center but directed to an independent foundation, particularly one controlled by community members (including patient advocates), this perception is refuted and the financial conflict dissolves. Independent foundations may choose to use repository profits to fund local research or community health education initiatives.