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 Lord Hunt, Health Minister"We want to make sure we learn the lessons"  real 28k Prof Liam Donaldson"The present arrangements for giving consent are not adequate." real 28k |
Child-organ surgeon 'warned of time-bomb'
Professor van Velzen says he has done nothing wrong |
The Dutch pathologist at the centre of the Alder Hey hospital child organs controversy has denied he is some sort of "Dr Frankenstein".
Professor Dick van Velzen stands accused of removing organs from hundreds of dead children without informing parents while working at the Liverpool hospital between 1988 and 1995.
 They are trying to describe me as a kind of Dr Frankenstein, just to get themselves off the hook  |
| Professor Dick van Velzen |
"Obviously, I never removed organs without authorisation. I take my speciality seriously. The parents have been betrayed and consciously lined up against me by the hospital," he added.
'No explanation'
Prof Van Velzen said the removal of hearts, lungs, livers and kidneys was not carried out secretly or illegally and was practised only during post-mortem examinations to try to ascertain the cause of death.
"These are the organs of children for whom we did not know the cause of death. In these cases, a coroner ordered an autopsy," he said.
Prof Donaldson: Concerns over health service practices |
He also said he had kept a file of requests made to hospital managers to halt the practice.
The professor, who now works at Westeind Hospital in the Hague, told the Sunday Times: "I will come to England with all my papers. I will meet any parents, face any inquiry or any court case."
Parents angry
However Keith and Janet Valentine, whose baby Kayleigh's organs were removed after unsuccessful hole in the heart surgery 10 years ago, dismissed claims that Professor van Velzen was restricted by a lack of funding.
Mr Valentine, 39, said: "Maybe the money was a factor but unfortunately for him he was instrumental in my daughter being mutilated.
Kayleigh Valentine's death is to be investigated |
"But he was there and he did this to my daughter, he has to take his share of the blame."
The outcry over Alder Hey Hospital led the government to announce a public inquiry on Friday.
Britain's Chief Medical Officer Liam Donaldson said on Saturday that changes to the law might be necessary, because many parents did not understand the full implications of signing consent forms.
A survey conducted by the BBC revealed that seven of Britain's leading health trusts admitted parents might not always have been aware that their deceased children's organs had been removed.
Teaching hospitals, including St James's Hospital in Leeds and Southampton General Hospital, will be part of an investigation into the issue of organ "retention" across NHS trusts in England.
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04 Dec 99 | Health |
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Organ laws may be tightened |
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04 Dec 99 | Health |
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Doctor's 'life of helping children' |
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03 Dec 99 | Health |
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Organ removal: the legal background |
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03 Dec 99 | Health |
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Organ stripping: The reaction |
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03 Dec 99 | Health |
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Inquiry into organ scandal |
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07 Oct 99 | Health |
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Child organ stockpile prompts inquiry |
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27 Sep 99 | Health |
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Hospital will return children's hearts |
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16 Jul 99 | Health |
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Organ donor reform rejected |
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Internet links: |
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Department of Health |
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Bulletin of Medical Ethics |
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British Organ Donor Society |
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