Government urged to quickly implement Human Tissue Act after babies' organs sent abroad

According to internal correspondence, mortuary staff at Cork University Hospital became aware early in 2020 that its burial plot in Curraghkippane’s St Mary’s Cemetery was full and the organs could not be buried. File Picture: Larry Cummins

The mother of a little boy who was among 18 babies whose organs were sent abroad for incineration without their consent or knowledge is urging the Government to quickly implement the Human Tissue Act.

The legislation was enacted in February 2024, and it provides a framework for the retention and disposal of organs used in autopsies. It will also provide a statutory framework for organ donation and transplant services.