14,000 children's glands removed without parents knowledge

The pituitary glands of hundreds of dead children were removed without their parents’ consent for manufacturing human growth hormones during the seventies and eighties, the Madden Report found today.

Between 1976 and 1988, almost 14,000 glands were removed – around 10% of which were from children – by staff at 26 hospitals in Ireland.

The report by Dr Deidre Madden into organ retention said hospitals were paid a nominal amount to remove the glands which were used by two international pharmaceutical companies.

But she said she found there was no commercial motive on the part of any hospital or its staff in supplying the glands to Kabi Vitrum (now Pharmacia Ireland) and Nordisk Gentofte (now Nova Nordisk).

Dr Madden was appointed by the Department of Health and Children to examine the findings of the unfinished Dunne Inquiry, which was wound up by the Government after costs spiralled to €20m.

Her report found the post-mortems were carried out to the best professional and international standards and no intentional disrespect was shown to deceased children or their families.

But she said communication between hospital staff and families was poor, often due to a paternalistic desire by doctors not to upset next of kin.

The report said that in Ireland, as in many countries, there was no legislative framework and no consistent national policy relating to the practices of hospital post mortems and organ retention and disposal.