Families To Apply For Return Of Organs

Bereaved families across the Irish Republic are being invited to make a macabre application to a top Dublin hospital.

The families of people who died in the Rotunda Hospital are being asked to reclaim any organs from their loved ones for burial.

The hospital is in the process of contacting 138 different families who may be affected by the organ retention scandal and has placed advertisements in this morning's newspapers.

A Health Service Executive audit published yesterday highlighted weaknesses in the post mortem consent policy at the hospital.

It found that organs had been retained without consent in more than 100 cases between 2000 and 2007.

The audit also revealed that almost 21,500 organs are being held by 36 hospitals and five universities across the State, prompting the move today by the Dublin facility.

The controversy over organ retention began almost a decade ago when four mothers claimed their deceased children's organs had been retained and later disposed of by a Dublin hospital, without their knowledge.

There have been several inquiries since then with the Madden Inquiry into organ retention reporting three years ago.

It recommended urgent legislation to ensure no children's organs are obtained by hospitals in the future without parental consent.

This week's new report, commissioned by the HSE, revealed that nearly 25% of organs have been retained since the scandal broke in 2000 which led to a State inquiry.

The 130-page Retained Organs Report was produced by Michaela Willis, a British expert who chaired Britain's National Committee on Organ Retention.

It reveals that 2,274 organs (11%) have been retained by three hospitals since the controversy first became public.

The main hospitals involved are all in Dublin - the Rotunda Hospital (1,083 organs retained), the National Maternity Hospital (673 organs retained) and Beaumont Hospital (138).

(BMcC/JM)