Retained Human Organs

HC Deb 18 June 2002 vol 387 cc232-3W

27. Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals have retained human organs without permission from the relatives of the deceased since 1997; and how many are continuing this practice. [59148]

Mr. Lammy

These data are not collected centrally. General information about organ retention in NHS trusts is available in the Chief Medical Officer's census report¹.

The Chief Medical Officer issued interim guidance in March 2000 requiring NHS trusts to obtain consent from spouses or other relatives to any organ retention from post-mortem examination. This is to ensure that the requirements of the Human Tissue Act 1961 are met effectively.

We have recently consulted on a comprehensive, new code of practice on families and post mortems and on a range of post mortem consent forms. We shall shortly be seeking views on whether changes to the current law are necessary. ¹ "Retention of Organs at Post Mortem: Census of hospitals in England" report available at: www.doh.gov.uk/organcensus