Click to Consent? Ethical and Legal Reflections on the Use of Electronic Informed Consent for Whole-Body Donation, with Türkiye as a Case Study

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Click to Consent? Ethical and Legal Reflections on the Use of Electronic Informed Consent for Whole-Body Donation, with Türkiye as a Case Study
Language: English
Authors: Pelin Çavdar Lokumcu, Ilke Ali Gürses (ORCID 0000-0001-9188-4662)
Source: Anatomical Sciences Education. 2026 19(1):144-153.
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 10
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Informed Consent, Human Body, Donors, Ethics, Legal Problems, Computer Oriented Programs, Older Adults, Disabilities, Inclusion, Justice, Information Security
Geographic Terms: Turkey
DOI: 10.1002/ase.70135
ISSN: 1935-9772
1935-9780
Abstract: The adoption of electronic informed consent (eIC) in health systems is expanding globally, yet its application in whole-body donation remains limited and underexplored. This article examines the ethical and legal dimensions of adopting eIC for body donation, with Türkiye serving as a case study. We discuss the potential benefits of eIC, including broader donor reach, improved comprehension of consent content, flexible and personalized decision-making, and increased transparency through stakeholder engagement. Conversely, key concerns such as the digital divide, security vulnerabilities, and lack of institutional and legislative readiness are also addressed. Special attention is given to the needs of elderly donors, the dominant demographic in body donation, and donors with disabilities, and the importance of inclusive practices that do not exacerbate existing inequalities. While eIC could strengthen ethical principles like autonomy and beneficence, it also raises questions regarding justice and non-maleficence. Without clear regulatory frameworks and institutional commitment, premature implementation may undermine trust. Although Türkiye presents unique regulatory and cultural challenges, these issues are broadly relevant to donation systems worldwide. Therefore, a cautious, hybrid model that combines digital accessibility with traditional consent pathways, supported by legal and ethical oversight, is recommended.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1493304
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1493304
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Click to Consent? Ethical and Legal Reflections on the Use of Electronic Informed Consent for Whole-Body Donation, with Türkiye as a Case Study
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pelin+Çavdar+Lokumcu%22">Pelin Çavdar Lokumcu</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ilke+Ali+Gürses%22">Ilke Ali Gürses</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9188-4662">0000-0001-9188-4662</externalLink>)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Anatomical+Sciences+Education%22"><i>Anatomical Sciences Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 19(1):144-153.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 10
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Informed+Consent%22">Informed Consent</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+Body%22">Human Body</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Donors%22">Donors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ethics%22">Ethics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Legal+Problems%22">Legal Problems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Oriented+Programs%22">Computer Oriented Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Older+Adults%22">Older Adults</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disabilities%22">Disabilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Inclusion%22">Inclusion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Justice%22">Justice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+Security%22">Information Security</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Turkey%22">Turkey</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1002/ase.70135
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1935-9772<br />1935-9780
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The adoption of electronic informed consent (eIC) in health systems is expanding globally, yet its application in whole-body donation remains limited and underexplored. This article examines the ethical and legal dimensions of adopting eIC for body donation, with Türkiye serving as a case study. We discuss the potential benefits of eIC, including broader donor reach, improved comprehension of consent content, flexible and personalized decision-making, and increased transparency through stakeholder engagement. Conversely, key concerns such as the digital divide, security vulnerabilities, and lack of institutional and legislative readiness are also addressed. Special attention is given to the needs of elderly donors, the dominant demographic in body donation, and donors with disabilities, and the importance of inclusive practices that do not exacerbate existing inequalities. While eIC could strengthen ethical principles like autonomy and beneficence, it also raises questions regarding justice and non-maleficence. Without clear regulatory frameworks and institutional commitment, premature implementation may undermine trust. Although Türkiye presents unique regulatory and cultural challenges, these issues are broadly relevant to donation systems worldwide. Therefore, a cautious, hybrid model that combines digital accessibility with traditional consent pathways, supported by legal and ethical oversight, is recommended.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1493304
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1493304
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1002/ase.70135
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 10
        StartPage: 144
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Informed Consent
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Human Body
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Donors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ethics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Legal Problems
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computer Oriented Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Older Adults
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Disabilities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Inclusion
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Justice
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Information Security
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Turkey
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Click to Consent? Ethical and Legal Reflections on the Use of Electronic Informed Consent for Whole-Body Donation, with Türkiye as a Case Study
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Pelin Çavdar Lokumcu
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ilke Ali Gürses
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 1935-9772
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1935-9780
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 19
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Anatomical Sciences Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1