Alder Hey organs scandal

The Alder Hey organs scandal (pronounced: /ˈɔːldər heɪ ˈɔːrɡən ˈskændəl/) was a significant event in the history of medical ethics and pathology in the United Kingdom. The scandal involved the unauthorised removal, retention, and disposal of human organs and tissues during post-mortem examinations at the Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.

Etymology

The term "Alder Hey organs scandal" is derived from the name of the hospital where the scandal took place, Alder Hey, and the nature of the scandal itself, which involved the unauthorised handling of organs.

Background

The scandal came to light in the late 1990s when it was discovered that, without first obtaining consent, pathologists at the Alder Hey Children's Hospital had been systematically removing, retaining, and disposing of organs and tissues from deceased patients, most of whom were children. This practice had been ongoing for several decades, dating back to the 1980s.

Impact

The Alder Hey organs scandal had a profound impact on the public's trust in the medical profession and led to significant changes in the laws and regulations governing post-mortem examinations and the handling of human tissues in the UK. It also led to a wider debate about the ethical issues surrounding organ donation and the rights of patients and their families.

Related Terms

Medical ethics: The field of applied ethics which analyzes the practice of clinical medicine and related scientific research.
Pathology: The study of the causes and effects of disease or injury.
Post-mortem examination: Also known as an autopsy, it is a detailed examination of a body after death to determine the cause of death or the extent of disease.
Organ donation: The process of giving an organ or a part of an organ for the purpose of transplantation into another person.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Alder Hey organs scandal
Wikipedia's article - Alder Hey organs scandal

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski

Alder Hey organs scandal