Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 165: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if there are guidelines in place relating to the retention of organs of deceased elderly persons by hospitals; if the families of these persons should be informed that retention has taken place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13610/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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In late 1999, my Department wrote to all health boards and hospitals requesting that they ensure that a policy of informed consent should operate in respect of the retention of organs following post mortem examination, pending the issue of guidelines by the faculty of pathology. In February 2000, the faculty issued its "Guidelines for post mortem consent and retention of tissues at post mortem examination".

The Health Services Executive has confirmed that guidelines and protocols are in place for families in respect of both coroners' and non-coroners' post mortems. In accordance with these guidelines, families are to be informed when retention takes place in a coroner's post mortem and permission is to be sought to retention in the case of a non-coroner's post mortem.