JOINT COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND CHILDREN debate -
Thursday, 23 Nov 2006

Business of Joint Committee.

Chairman

Apologies were received from Deputy O'Connor and Senator Henry. As usual, I ask members to switch off their mobile telephones. The minutes of the meeting held on November 22 have been circulated. Are they agreed? Agreed.

I propose we meet in private session to discuss correspondence. Deputy McManus requested that we do not go into private session to do so but it is usual for letters to be discussed in private session.

The joint committee went into private session at 9.35 a.m. and resumed in public session at 9.36 a.m.

Deputy Connolly

I have strong feelings on the issue of post mortems about which people approach me, perhaps after a car crash. The bodies of those who die young or unexpectedly are brought for post mortem. At weekends, particularly bank holidays, no one can be found to perform a post mortem. The law should state a post mortem must be performed within a given period of time. Having the body home helps the bereaved family to grieve. That is the main issue. Families feel the bodies are almost treated like cargo when they are left there without a post mortem being performed. The matter should be addressed.

Chairman

I strongly support the Deputy. I approach this issue as an undertaker. The situation at weekends is as bad if not worse than Deputy Connolly makes out. If people were made aware of when a post mortem would take place, it might alleviate some of the distress and problems. If a road accident or suicide occurs at a weekend, the family cannot be informed as to when the post mortem will take place. If they were told it would take place on the Monday or Tuesday at least they would be prepared for it. However, the decision is not given until the morning it will be carried out. People may have lost two or three days trying to work out what will happen.

It is even worse on a bank holiday weekend when it may drag out from Friday to Tuesday or Wednesday. I support the call made by Deputy Connolly to have people designated to carry out post mortems in hospitals in each region. In the midlands region, one pathologist covers the three or four hospitals. It is inadequate.

Deputy Connolly

It is more than just being told when the post mortem will take place. One may be told it will take place on Tuesday depending on the number to be carried out. It should be carried out within a given timeframe. No reason exists for a post mortem not to be carried out within 12 to 18 hours of death.

Chairman

I fully support the Deputy.

Senator Browne

I also support the call. Does the committee recall a recent case where it was discovered the body of a man returned to England included organs which did not belong to him? Was an internal inquiry carried out and were its findings made public? Was any explanation given?

Chairman

I do not know.

Senator Browne

I suspect it was an internal problem. Will the committee inquire as to whether any conclusions were reached? We are asked about it.

Chairman

We will inquire about it. We must move on because we have a long agenda and are only at correspondence.

The joint committee went into private session at 9.40 a.m. until 9.44 a.m.