Sir, - We are greatly saddened at the distress caused to the parents of children who died at Our lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, who found that their children's organs were not treated with respect. Their grief has been unnecessarily prolonged and our hearts go out to them. Only parents who have lost a child can truly understand the depth of their grief.
Our new-born child, Ronan, lived for just five days at Crumlin in September 1986 and we still recall with great love and affection the exceptional care that Ronan received from the staff there. Absolutely nothing was left wanting and, as a nation, we should be proud and grateful for this outstanding institution.
We believe that the wrongs that have been done should be immediately addressed and resolved with deep respect and concern for the aggrieved parents. While Crumlin's treatment of the organs of deceased children was, in some cases, inadequate, in our experience their care for their patients and their patients' families was always excellent. These errors must not overshadow the excellent work of the rest of the team at Crumlin over past decades. We should all retain balance in addressing these most delicate and poignant issues in the months ahead. - Yours, etc.,
Mary and Dara Hogan, Highfield Court, Marley Grange, Dublin 16.