HC Deb 20 November 1930 vol 245 c610
82. Mr. DAY

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the public assistance committees of several counties have decided that in future bodies of friendless paupers are to be available for dissection at medical schools; can he say whether any regulations exist by which a friendless pauper, who is dying in a hospital, is notified of the fact that his body-will be handed over for the purpose of dissection unless he protests; and are any arrangements made by the authorities to satisfy themselves that when the dissected body is buried the correct remains of the body are properly interred?

Mr. GREENWOOD

The answer to the first and third parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, any inmate of an institution may express a desire that his body shall be interred without anatomical examination, and Section 7 of the Anatomy Act, 1832. provides that such a wish shall be respected.

Mr. DAY

Can my right hon. Friend say whether any intimation is given to these inmates, and whether it is not the fact that many inmates have no relatives?