6/02/01

Histonetters-
	Recently in the UK the national press has been focusing on the issue
of organ retention(particularly baby organs), after post-mortem examination,
by some hospital pathology departments without the informed consent of the
relatives. This has been sparked by the issue of a report into the
stock-piling of organs for no apparent reason by a pathologist at Alder Hey
Hospital in Liverpool, and the subsequent revealation by several other
hospital's that they retained organs without informed consent of the
relatives. This has resulted in hospitals being swamped with phone calls
from anxious relatives enquiring if the organs of any of their loved ones,
who underwent post-mortem examination (some as far back as 40- 50 years)
have been retained. Fortunately our pathology department does not retain
organs. However I would be interested to hear the views, policies and
procedures of the international community with regard to this issue.


Liam Brennan
Histopathology Dept.
Belfast City Hospital