Table 1 Facts that participants could have known about the consent they had given.

Point scoring fact	Participants who had knowledge of this n (%)
Consenting did not affect treatment†	35 (80)
Consent given was to do with science or research*	26 (59)
Removed tissue to be used in some way†	23 (52)
Everyone is asked‡	21 (48)
Tissue frozen or refrigerated‡	13 (30)
Research conducted could be with a microscope†	10 (23)
Stored for an indefinite time period‡	8 (18)
Research conducted may include testing new treatments†	4 (9)
Tissue used was surplus to clinical requirements*	4 (9)
Consent is about a small amount of tissue†	3 (7)
Could be used as a comparison or control in research‡	3 (7)
Research conducted could include growing cells†	3 (7)
Stored as slices†	1 (2)
Something about storage†	1 (2)
Research involved molecules†	0 (0)
Stored in a wax or paraffin block†	0 (0)

*From Medical Research Council recommendations.

†From St James Hospital information sheet.

‡From participant responses.