§ Mr. BurtTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice is given to hospital authorities about the disposal of dead foetuses; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe NHS management executive will be issuing an executive letter to all general managers and chief executives in the NHS about the disposal of dead foetuses. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.
Some hospitals are known to deal with these matters with understanding and sensitivity. The Government want all hospitals to apply standards of good practice, acceptable both to those personally involved, such as the parents, and to the hospital staff.
The ethical position guiding the Government's thinking is the acknowledgement that there is a respect due to the dead foetus which is based upon its lost potential for development into a fully formed human being. That respect is due no matter what the circumstances of loss —stillbirth, miscarriage or termination of pregnancy. That respect needs to be reflected, as far as is practicable, in the arrangements for the disposal of the dead foetus.
The NHS management executive will be asking hospital managers to satisfy themselves that current arrangements are acceptable. It is important that, as far as possible, account is taken of any personal wishes which have been expressed about disposal. Subject to that, incineration of the dead foetus is the usual method of disposal.
Where no special arrangements are called for, it will, in any event, be a basic requirement that separate containers are used for foetal tissue, and that the containers are delivered to the incinerator separately from any other material requiring incineration and are separately loaded into the incinerator.
Some concern has been expressed about the position of ancillary staff in relation to the handling of foetuses and foetal tissue following the termination of pregnancy. Such staff are not covered by the provisions of section 4 of the Abortion Act 1967—the "conscience clause"—which acknowledges conscientious objection to participation in treatment authorised by the Act. However, the Government believe that hospital managers will wish to ensure that the same principle is applied to any ancillary staff who express a conscientious objection to the handling of foetuses or foetal material. The issues covered in this statement will form the basis of the executive letter to general managers and chief executives. Copies will also go to relevant private hospitals.