Irish government sets up inquiry into retained body organs

The Irish government is setting up an inquiry into the practice of retaining body organs at postmortem examination without the consent of the patient's relatives, following allegations that the procedure was widespread in the 1970s and early 1980s.

The Faculty of Pathology at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland reacted quickly to revelations concerning organ retention without consent by introducing new postmortem consent procedures last month in which the next of kin can specify which organs can be removed.

Full details on the establishment of the inquiry are expected within days. The minister of health, Michael Martin, wants …