Joyce,
we don't give the patient back anything, stones, implants or ortho hardware.
I had an incident last week where a patient insisted on getting her
gallbladder stones.  The pathologist refused her request.  The pathology
secretary and I made several telephone calls to our Risk management office
and the corporate lawyer.  The only way we are to release any specimen to a
patient is if Risk management says it is okay and then they assume the
responsibility.  As to your second question, I've never heard of anyone
video taping a procedure.  Smells like a law suit.  I would get intouch with
who ever handles the legal situations in your institution.  Fast!

Joe Nocito, B.S., HT(ASCP)QIHC
Histology Supervisor
Christus Santa Rosa Hospitals
San Antonio, Texas 


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Weems, Joyce [SMTP:JWEEMS@sjha.org]
> Sent:	Wednesday, June 16, 1999 6:57 AM
> To:	'Histonet'
> Subject:	RE: Breast Implants
> 
> OK - Is everyone ignoring me or what!!! :>)
> 
> Do you release your breast implants dry or in a solution? Thanks, j
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Weems, Joyce
> Sent:	Monday, June 14, 1999 5:37 PM
> To:	'Histonet'
> Subject:	Breast Implants
> 
> Two questions:
> 
> 1.	Do you release breast implants to patients in an alcohol or
> formalin substitute? We wash them in a bleach solution and release
> them in the dry state. However, if the specimen has been around for
> mold can end up growing all over it. Our pathologist wonders if there 
> is a standard in the industry for this procedure.
> 
> 2.	The owner of the above implants has contacted our pathologist
> requesting that her breast capsule (which has adhered to the shell of 
> the implants) be dissected from the shell under videotaped
> surveillance. "A lab told her this," she says. Has anyone heard of
> such a procedure?
> 
> Thanks in advance, j:>)
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>