We often got similar requests when I was working in hospital labs. If the
fetus was in formalin we put it in 70% alcohol and it would "pink" up a bit
and look a little better. We never allowed the fetus to leave the lab once
it was received. The nurses came to the lab to do whatever and it sometimes
included photographing. I never could understand why this wasn't done
before the fetus was sent to the lab but I'm sure there were reasons.
There was a procedure in place for releasing fetuses stating that we could
only release them to a mortuary. It was sad to see them bringing baby
caskets sometimes to collect the fetuses. With this procedure in place we
felt reasonably assured that we were doing the right thing - yeah, a little
paperwork was necessary and a little extra effort but we are talking about
a human life cut short for some reason.
Andi



>X-From_: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu Fri Jul  7 04:49:51 MST 2000
>Date: Thu, 06 Jul 2000 14:06:00 +0100
>From: Buttigieg Carmen at MOH <carmen.a.buttigieg@magnet.mt>
>Subject: Foetuses
>To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
>
>Histonetters
>
>Here in Malta, I work in the only major hospital there is, which is run by
>the
>Government. We need to set up a policy regarding access to foetuses. We
>have had
>requests from the Maternity wards to allow parents to take pictures of the
>foetuses which have been in formalin. They are not a pretty sight.
>Their request is, that we allow a nurse to dress up the foetus, leaving
>just the
>face and hands showing. Then the nurse takes the foetus to the parents who
>would
>take the photo.
>Are these things allowed in your hospitals?
>Is it the logical thing to do?
>Is it humane?
>
>Please, I need some feedback.
>
>Carmen
>St. Luke's Hospital
>Malta

.....................................................................
: Andrea Grantham, HT(ASCP)     Dept. of Cell Biology & Anatomy     :
: Sr. Research Specialist       University of Arizona               :
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