§ Mr. Staintonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what enactment and by what means hospital authorities have been informed by her Department that the body of any person who dies in a State hospital becomes the property of the hospital authorities who may then remove organs without the consent either of the patient before death or of the next of kin afterwards.
§ Dr. OwenI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. Monro) and my hon. Friend the Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Stott) on 20th October.—[Vol. 898, c.42–3.]
Being in lawful possession of the body does not imply ownership, and the right of relatives or executors to take possession of a body is unaffected by the Human Tissue Act.