[Histonet] RE: Histonet Digest, Return of Body Parts for religious reasons

[Tony Henwood]

Amazing how different areas have different regs (or lack of)
I thought I would attach our policy, seems to work and, drafted with the
best intentions, hopefully prevents litigation and meets the needs of
patients:

BIOPSY SPECIMENS: RETURNED TO PATIENTS
PROCEDURE (c)
Background
At present, very few patients request the return of resected organs or
other samples. When patients are specifically informed of what happens
to such specimens, it is likely that such requests will increase in
frequency, especially in relation to larger samples including whole
organs, the disposal or retention of which may have emotional
implications. Laboratories should have established protocols to permit
compliance with such requests while minimising any risk to the patient
or others from infection or toxic chemicals. 
Procedure
1.	Contact the Histopathology Department, ensure that patient
details and patient representative (usually a parent) details (including
contact number) are supplied.
2.	Request is received and action approved by the Pathologist
involved with the case.
3.	Specimens are not usually released until one month after the
report has been verified. 
4.	Histopathology staff will then liaise with the patient's
representative and undertake the following procedure.
i.	The specimen is washed in gentle running water for one hour
(minimum).
ii.	The biopsy is blotted dry and sealed in a biodegradable plastic
bag
iii.	The bag is labelled with "The Children's Hospital at Westmead",
patient's name and the biopsy specimen laboratory accession number.
iv.	The specimen is placed in a small esky or similar container.
v.	A copy of the 10% formalin MSDS form is attached to the
container.
vi.	The details of the specimen transfer from Histopathology to the
family representative are recorded on the release form (Attachment 1), a
copy is given to the parents and the original is attached to the
specimen report.
vii.	Explanation is given to the parents regarding the possible
hazardous nature of the specimen. That is:
o	If the specimen is for burial, ensure a deep hole.
o	Ensure that the specimen is kept away from children or pets.
o	Stress that the danger does not necessarily only lie with the
possible infectious nature of the tissue but also the hazardous nature
of the preservative.
o	Remind the parents to be familiar with the MSDS form and if
concerned contact the laboratory (phone number included on the MSDS).
The above information is included on the Release Form

References:
1.	Royal College of Pathologists (2001) "Transitional guidelines to
facilitate changes in procedures for handling 'surplus' and archival
material from human biological samples "
http://www.rcpath.org/index.php?PageID=208

Regards

Tony Henwood JP, MSc, BAppSc, GradDipSysAnalys, CT(ASC)
Laboratory Manager & Senior Scientist
Tel: 612 9845 3306
Fax: 612 9845 3318
the children's hospital at westmead 
Cnr Hawkesbury Road and Hainsworth Street, Westmead 
Locked Bag 4001, Westmead NSW 2145, AUSTRALIA 




-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Terri
Braud
Sent: Thursday, 27 November 2008 2:43 AM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] RE: Histonet Digest,Return of Body Parts for
religious reasons


You might want to check with local regulations concerning burial.  Here,
and at other facilities that I've been a part of, we receive these
requests regularly, usually associated with amputated limbs, however, we
make it a policy to release no "soft tissue" to a patient, but instead
we ask that they make arrangements with a funeral home (since this is
supposed to be for purposes of burial, eventually) and it is only to the
funeral home that we will release the part.  What happens to the part
after that, is between the patient and their funeral home
representative, which is much more familiar with regulations and
practices for these situations. This is the only way to complete way
protect the hospital from liability of having a body part "stored in the
attic". 

Terri L. Braud, HT(ASCP)
Anatomic Pathology Supervisor
Laboratory
Holy Redeemer Hospital and Medical Center
1648 Huntingdon Pike
Meadowbrook, PA 19046
(215) 938-3676 phone
(215) 938-3689 fax

The premise I've been given is so that, upon death, the patient may be 
stored with her body parts.

My facility has concerns about providing it to her in formalin (for
obvious 
reasons) or alcohol. The patient admits this is a family practice with 
momma's appendix already being stored in the attic.

It can get a bit toasty warm here in the South so attic storage of a 
specimen in alcohol may not be prudent and I can't be absolutely certain
it 
wouldn't burn the house down, another potential liability for my 
institution.

I'm tempted to give it to her in food grade vinegar, to avoid the
potential 
liabilities from using anything that could be considered hazardous.
Assuming that returning her gall bladder is a given, what do you think
of 
using vinegar for this purpose?



Vinnie Della Speranza

Manager for Anatomic Pathology Services


------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------



CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:

This E-Mail is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to
which it was sent. It may contain information that is privileged and/or
confidential, and the use or disclosure of such information may also be
restricted under applicable federal and state law. If you received this
communication in error, please do not distribute any part of it or
retain any copies, and delete the original E-Mail. Please notify the
sender of any error by E-Mail.

Thank you for your cooperation.

_______________________________________________
Histonet mailing list
Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet

*********************************************************************
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete it and notify the sender.

Views expressed in this message and any attachments are those of the individual sender, and are not necessarily the views of The Children's Hospital at Westmead

This note also confirms that this email message has been
virus scanned and although no computer viruses were detected, The Childrens Hospital at Westmead accepts no liability for any consequential damage resulting from email containing computer viruses.
**********************************************************************