❓ Hon Jim Scott's question seeks data on organ/tissue removal during autopsies under specific legislation. The response indicates a lack of centralised record-keeping, making precise figures difficult to obtain, but estimates ~1000 spinal columns were removed for specialist examination.
AnsweredQoN 107Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(b) Human Tissue and Transplant Amendment Act 1987 ; (c) Human Tissue and Transplant Amendment Act 1997 ; and (d) Coroners Act 1996 ?
(c) Human Tissue and Transplant Amendment Act 1997 ; and (d) Coroners Act 1996 ?
(d) Coroners Act 1996 ?
(c) Human Tissue and Transplant Amendment Act 1997 ; and (d) Coroners Act 1996 ?
(d) Coroners Act 1996 ?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
31 July 2001
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
33 days
(2)-(3) Not applicable. (4) The Health Department of Western Australia does not keep centralised records of organs or tissue, including spinal columns and cords, which may be removed during coronial and hospital autopsies. However, every autopsy would result in a post mortem report, and other documents and records, from which such information can usually be ascertained. Those records are kept by relevant hospitals and PathCentre. (5) It would not be possible to produce an exact figure without scrutinising the individual records for each autopsy conducted during that period (both coronial autopsies and hospital autopsies). However, I am informed that approximately 1000 spinal columns (with cord in situ) are likely to have been removed and retained at autopsy for further specialist examination during that time period. It is possible that in additional cases during that time period the spinal cord only would have been removed and retained for further specialist examination.
(4) The Health Department of Western Australia does not keep centralised records of organs or tissue, including spinal columns and cords, which may be removed during coronial and hospital autopsies. However, every autopsy would result in a post mortem report, and other documents and records, from which such information can usually be ascertained. Those records are kept by relevant hospitals and PathCentre. (5) It would not be possible to produce an exact figure without scrutinising the individual records for each autopsy conducted during that period (both coronial autopsies and hospital autopsies). However, I am informed that approximately 1000 spinal columns (with cord in situ) are likely to have been removed and retained at autopsy for further specialist examination during that time period. It is possible that in additional cases during that time period the spinal cord only would have been removed and retained for further specialist examination.
(5) It would not be possible to produce an exact figure without scrutinising the individual records for each autopsy conducted during that period (both coronial autopsies and hospital autopsies). However, I am informed that approximately 1000 spinal columns (with cord in situ) are likely to have been removed and retained at autopsy for further specialist examination during that time period. It is possible that in additional cases during that time period the spinal cord only would have been removed and retained for further specialist examination.
(4) The Health Department of Western Australia does not keep centralised records of organs or tissue, including spinal columns and cords, which may be removed during coronial and hospital autopsies. However, every autopsy would result in a post mortem report, and other documents and records, from which such information can usually be ascertained. Those records are kept by relevant hospitals and PathCentre. (5) It would not be possible to produce an exact figure without scrutinising the individual records for each autopsy conducted during that period (both coronial autopsies and hospital autopsies). However, I am informed that approximately 1000 spinal columns (with cord in situ) are likely to have been removed and retained at autopsy for further specialist examination during that time period. It is possible that in additional cases during that time period the spinal cord only would have been removed and retained for further specialist examination.
(5) It would not be possible to produce an exact figure without scrutinising the individual records for each autopsy conducted during that period (both coronial autopsies and hospital autopsies). However, I am informed that approximately 1000 spinal columns (with cord in situ) are likely to have been removed and retained at autopsy for further specialist examination during that time period. It is possible that in additional cases during that time period the spinal cord only would have been removed and retained for further specialist examination.
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