Inquiry finds no commercial motive for organ retention

The inquiry into the retention of dead children's organs by Irish hospitals has reportedly found that nobody profited from the controversial practice.

This morning's newspapers said a 140-page report compiled by medical ethics expert Dr Deirdre Madden had concluded that here was no commercial motive involved.

Ms Madden was asked to draw up the report following a government decision to shut down the Dunne Inquiry that had been investigating the organ retention scandal

That inquiry was established after it emerged that Irish hospitals had been retaining the organs of dead children for decades without the consent of parents.

Several pharmaceutical companies have confirmed that they received some of these organs in the 1970s and 1980s for use in the manufacture of growth hormones.

However, this morning's reports said Dr Madden's findings, which are due to be published later today, said there was no commercial motive involved in this arrangement.

Instead, the conclusions reportedly blame a failure of communication by hospital staff for the fact that parental consent was never secured.