20,000 brains taken without consent

AT least 20,000 brains were taken for research following post-mortems without the consent or knowledge of relatives, a new report revealed.

Dr Jeremy Metters, Her Majesty’s Inspector of Anatomy, who produced the Isaacs Report, said this number covered only those brains still held by hospitals and universities in England and many more could have been taken without permission and since destroyed. In one case, the report found a hospital mortician was paid £10 for each brain he provided for a research project.

The Retained Organs Commission has set up a helpline for relatives concerned that their loved ones’ brains or other organs could have been taken without consent. Dr Metters said there was a possibility that a brain could have been taken from anyone on whom a post-mortem was carried out by a hospital or coroner between 1961 and 1999. Yesterday’s report was sparked by the case of Cyril Isaacs, who committed suicide after suffering depression in 1987.

In 2000 his widow Elaine discovered by chance that his brain had been kept for research without her knowledge.

As strict Jews, Mrs Isaacs would never have agreed to any part of his body being removed as religious laws require the body to be buried intact.

Mrs Isaacs yesterday broke down as she spoke of her battle to get to the truth about her husband’s case. “I’m very, very angry about being here today,” she said. “I’ve had to fight so hard to get this whole situation recognised. Our rights were ignored in every sense.”

She said the situation surrounding her husband’s case was “nothing short of collusion” and she expected the individuals named in the report to be referred to the General Medical Council and the Crown Prosecution Service. Dr Metters said that under the Human Tissue Act organs can only be obtained if relatives don’t object. However, he said: “This was widely disregarded in many cases.”

He said the GMC had asked to see a copy of his report, but he also pointed out that the Human Tissue Act carries no penalties. Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson said: “Removing organs or tissues at post-mortem examination without lawful authority is an affront to families who have lost a loved one. I can assure them and other families that, since the time of the activities described in this report, the practice of routine retention and use of organs and tissue without consent is no longer acceptable practice in the NHS.”

It was following a campaign by Mrs Isaacs that Health Secretary Alan Milburn asked Dr Metters to investigate her case. Dr Metters found Mr Isaacs’ brain was kept as part of a system in the Manchester area.