WHY?

P
I
T
Y
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Mr. John Reid
Secretary of State for Health
Department of Health
Richmond House
79 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2NS
15th July 2003

Dear Mr. Reid

Re: New Legislation - Human Tissue Act

I am writing to you in your new capacity as Secretary of State for Health to enquire on progress that we hope is being made with reference to New Legislation dealing with Human Tissue.

As you are probably aware, PITY II is the parent support group that was set up in Liverpool following the discovery of thousands of children's organs and hundreds of fetuses and babies that had been retained after their post mortem examinations at Alder Hey hospital. We have since learnt that many adults are also involved in organ retention.

Ever since that discovery, we have campaigned for a change in the law and have taken part in the 'Human Body Human Choices' consultation process. We have been fully supported in this by many hundreds of families from around the country.

On 29th April 2003 Ms Hazel Blears MP, in answer to a question raised by the MP for South Cambridgeshire, Mr. Andrew Lansley, stated "I am pleased to confirm that we intend to introduce the bill as soon as parliamentary time allows. I can give the hon. Gentleman the undertaking that we hope to publish the draft bill for parliamentary scrutiny before the summer recess. We are anxious to get on with the process, which started with the Chief medical officer's report three years ago".

We are conscious that parliament is due to break shortly for the summer recess and we are anxious to know if there will be time delays due to the recent parliamentary re-shuffle. Will the draft bill be published for parliamentary scrutiny before the summer recess or will this now have to wait until the autumn? If so, will that mean that the new bill will not be included in the Queens speech at the opening of parliament in November?

I am sure that you can appreciate that this is of great concern to many families and that it is now almost four years since some of those families learnt about the discovery of their relatives' involvementin the organ retention issue. I hope that you can enlighten us on this matter and I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Alice Procter
Acting Chair-person

cc. Rosie Winterton MP

 

PITY II (Parents who have Interred Their Young Twice) is the parents' support group set up in the wake of the organ retention scandal
at Alder Hey Hospital (Liverpool, UK). It aims to provide self help support and advice to affected families.

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