Man demands to know why hospital retained his wife's organs after her death

****SEE ANN MURPHY FOR COPY****

A man whose wife’s organs were retained without his permission after she died in 1998 says he wants answers on how and when her brain was disposed.

Mary Moran from Clondalkin died in January 1998 at the age of 49 after being diagnosed with cancer. A post-mortem examination was carried out at St James’s Hospital in Dublin, after which organs including lungs, kidneys and a section of her liver were retained. Her brain, stomach and intestines were also retained.

Michael Moran: 'I did give permission for the post mortem but I thought only a small tiny bit would be taken.' Photo: Gareth Chaney

After he contacted the hospital two years ago about the issue, her husband Michael Moran received an apology in recent weeks from St James’s Hospital but says he is left without answers on why or how the retention was allowed to occur without his permission and knowledge.

A letter received by Mr Moran in November 2000 from St James’s Hospital, seen by the Irish Examiner, notified him of the retention of the organs. It also stated: “It is clear from the post-mortem report that the brain was also retained temporarily for diagnostic reasons and would have been disposed of shortly afterwards according to approved hospital procedure.” 

A letter of apology was received by Mr Moran in January this year, in which the hospital’s laboratory manager Fiona Kearney and clinical director Niamh Leonard said they regretted the “upset and distress caused by the notification that organs had been retained” without his knowledge or consent. 

The letter continued: “At the time, there was a lack of active communication between St James’s Hospital and patients’ families to ensure that retained organs were returned for burial, and a lack of focus on obtaining consent from patients’ families for organ retention.” 

It added: “Post mortems are no longer performed in St James’s Hospital, and appropriate measures have been taken to ensure that these errors are not repeated.” 

The letter also stated: 

We profoundly apologise for this incident and for the distress caused.

While Mr Moran welcomes the apology, he says he remains without answers on how the decision was made to retain Mary’s organs without his permission, and to have her brain disposed of.

The 78-year-old says: “This has been on my mind since we got that letter (in 2000). I cannot die before I get answers.”

He added: “I did give permission for the post mortem but I thought only a small tiny bit would be taken. I had to open her grave again and bring my children to another funeral for her.” 

St James’s Hospital has been contacted for comment.