[Histonet] Patient requests for tissues

[Kim Donadio]

I agree. I had this situation come up as the patient wanted the placenta to eat. I got out of that by explaining that federal law requires us to keep wet specimens for 2 weeks after sign out and that it would have to go in formalin as well. Also once had a patient request her uterus and another their arm I referred both those patients to go through a mortuary service and we sent those over to the service. I don't know what happened between the mortuary and parts after that. Hope this helps.   

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 7, 2012, at 12:26 PM, "Brendal Finlay" <brendal.finlay <@t> medicalcenterclinic.com> wrote:

> 
> We normally do not allow patients to have their specimens back after
> they are signed out, but recently we did have a patient request a
> specimen to be returned due to his religious preferences.  We have
> held onto the specimen and it's being looked at by our legal and risk
> management departments.  The biggest issue with this is the
> chemical (formalin) and biohazard exposure involved.  Eventually,
> the patient received his specimen, but there was a lot of red tape and
> it's the only instance in which I have seen a patient get a specimen
> back after we were done with it.
> 
> 
> Brendal Finlay, HT ASCP
> 
> 
> -----Original message-----
> From: Cathy Crumpton cathy.crumpton <@t> tuality.org
> Date: Thu, 07 Jun 2012 08:10:22 -0500
> To: "histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu"
> histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: [Histonet] Patient requests for tissues
> 
>> I am wondering how other hospital connected histology labs handle
> requests from patientsto get their tissue back. I am especially
> interested in the placentas. Our pathologists and managers are
> struggling to come up with a policy that is sensitive to various
> religions and cultures but keeps everyone safe. Do you allow patients
> to get back their specimens after the case is signed out or not???
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Cathy Crumpton HT(ASCP), Lead Histotechnician
>> 
>> Tuality Community Hospital
>> 
>> 503-681-1292
>> _______________________________________________
>> Histonet mailing list
>> Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>> http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
>> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Histonet mailing list
> Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet