Ministers 'knew of organ retention for 24 years'

The group Parents for Justice has said that the Madden Report says Dept of Health ministers have been aware of organ retention in hospitals for 24 years.

The group said: "It is clear from the content of the report that successive Ministers through the Department of Health have been aware of the practice of disposal of pituitary glands to pharmaceutical companies for more than 24 years and were receiving money for this sale."

"The report infers that only a limited number of pituitary glands were sold to pharmaceutical companies."

The group said that this is contrary to what was discovered by the media in 2004.

They claim that the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney has refused to facilitate access to information in respect of organ retention and disposal of pituitary glands.

The group said: "The report itself recommends that persons affected by organ retention practice should be facilitated if they so wish. But the Tanaiste has already refused a request from this organisation.

"The principal reason for the occurrence of this Health Scandal is the failure of successive Governments to legislate on the matter of post mortems.

"We will be calling an Extraordinary General Meeting of our members, after which we will indicate to the media our intended response on this issue.

The group say they have no faith in the Tánaiste, the Department of Health or the Government to deliver appropriate, comprehensive and effective solutions to the organ retention scandal.

"This was a flawed report from the outset as it didn’t involve stillborn children, minors or adults.

"The Tánaiste has indicated that this report answers the questions of parents and next-of-kin, but it is the view of the executive of Parents for Justice that it is fundamentally flawed and fails to do so."