Parents affected by organ removal scandals in Britain yesterday gave a cautious welcome to new guidelines aimed at ensuring hospitals and doctors fully explain the procedures involved in post-mortems.
The Royal College of Pathologists has drawn up a code of recommendations urging doctors to inform bereaved families that complete organs and/or tissues may be removed during postmortem.
If tissues or organs are removed, the families must be told why.
Under the guidelines sent to all NHS trusts by the Chief Medial Office, Prof Liam Donaldson, the Royal College of Pathologists says relatives should be asked if they want organs or tissues returned and the hospital must keep records of any tissues or organs retained. The guidelines, which are not backed up by law, were produced in the light of organ removal scandals at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool and Bristol Royal Infirmary.
It was revealed last year that both hospitals retained organs and tissues from thousands of dead children for research and teaching purposes without the knowledge of their families.
One of the problems with organ and tissue removal is that post-mortem consent forms do not make it clear that relatives are agreeing to the possible removal and retention of organ and tissues when they sign.
To address the issue the Royal College of Pathologists has produced a model consent form making it clear that organs and tissues may be removed during post-mortem and retained. Families will also be told they can withhold permission.
However, a solicitor representing one of the Alder Hey parent support groups gave a cautious welcome to the new guidelines. Mr Ian Cohen, who represents Pity II, said the guidelines "are only guidelines, and the reality is that they, together with the inquiry recommendations later this year, must result in a change in the law".