HC Deb 29 January 1979 vol 961 cc359-60W
Mr. Rifkind

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to take steps to prevent the removal and sale of pituitary glands without the consent of relatives from bodies that have been subjected to a post-mortem in hospitals in Scotland; and whether he is satisfied with the terms of the Human Tissue Act 1961 in this respect.

Mr. Harry Ewing

My Department issued guidance to health boards in 1975 and 1977 on the application of the Human Tissue Act 1961 to the removal of tissue during a post-mortem examination for medical education, research or therapeutic purposes. This requires a designated officer at a hospital to make such reasonable inquiries as may be practicable to establish that neither the decreased during his lifetime nor his surviving kin objected to the removal of tissue. I have no evidence that this guidance is being ignored.

There is no question of pituitary glands which are the only source of human growth hormone (HGH) being sold for commercial gain. A small handling fee is usually paid by the organisation manufacturing the hormone to the pathology department which carries out the postmortem.

I am satisfied with the terms of the Human Tissue Act as they relate to the removal of tissue including pituitary glands.

Forward to