Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 2

Written Answers. - Post-Mortem Practices.

John McGuinness

Question:

174 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children if the practice of harvesting children's pituitary glands was common in the early 1980s; if so, if this was known to the authorities; if the National Drugs Advisory Board was aware of the practice; if so, his views on whether this was acceptable; if his Department authorised medicinal products containing growth hormones derived from human pituitary glands; and if financial gain was derived in any way in this regard. [13521/00]

John Browne

Question:

184 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of further documentation secured under the Freedom of Information Act, 1997, by a group (details supplied) which states that the practice of harvesting children's pituitary glands would have been common practice in the early 1980s and would have been known to the authorities, for example, the National Drugs Advisory Board and generally accepted and that authorisation would have been granted by Ministers for medical products containing growth hormones derived from human pituitary glands, he will identify the other authorities which were aware of this practice. [13559/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 184 together.

The use of human growth hormone, obtained from human pituitary glands, in the treatment of pituitary dwarfism was common up to 1985 when the use was discontinued. The medicinal products concerned were prepared utilising pituitary glands that were collected at post mortem examinations.

The National Drugs Advisory Board was aware that these glands were sourced in the countries in which the manufacturers concerned were marketing their products. The collection of pituitary glands at autopsies for this purpose was not questioned at any time and was internationally accepted. In fact, the World Health Organisation established an international standard for growth hormone obtained from pituitary glands which applied for the period that the product was being manufactured. Accordingly, all relevant authorities and experts would have been aware of the source of the hormone and the practice of collecting same.

I understand that it would always have been assumed that such glands were donated or at least consent had been obtained. However, in the absence of either informed consent or donation I would not be of the view that this practice was acceptable.

Two authorisations for medicinal products for human growth hormone prepared from pituitary glands were granted by the Minister in 1976 on the recommendation of the then National Drugs Advisory Board.

The Deputies will be aware that I have recently announced an inquiry which will examine this area and its findings will be included in its final report. In this context, I consider it inappropriate to make any further statement on this matter until I receive the inquiry's final report.