British hospitals negligent

AN English court ruled recently that the National Health Service (NHS) there acted wrongfully in retaining dead children’s organs.

The judge ruled the NHS had been negligent in a case taken by more than 2,000 families. Lawyers argued that hospitals broke the Human Tissue Act in removing organs or tissue without parental consent.

However, just one of three lead cases was awarded compensation, of £2,750, and the judge said not all the families would be entitled to payment.

The NHS Litigation Authority said the finding of the judge was both “important and complex”.