======== Original Message ========
Who has jurisdiction over samples taken during an earlier admission from a
patient who subsequently dies? The samples were collected during an
admission apparently unrelated to the incident in which the patient died;
the samples have been requested by the police (not the Coroner) to see if
there is a connection between the admission and the fatal incident..
Are the samples under the jurisdiction of the coroner , the deceased's
next-of-kin or can the police simply request the samples?
Steve Davis
Principal Biochemist
Department of Clinical Biochemistry
East Glamorgan General Hospital
Church Village
PONTYPRIDD
Mid Glamorgan
CF38 1AB
======== Fwd by: Michael Rayme ========
It is my understanding that samples collected are the patient's own tissue
and thus belong to the patient. The Laboratory are just custodians of those
samples.
Samples should not be released to a police officer unless he/ she obtains
written consent fom the patient or the patients' relatives.
If this consent is not forthcoming then the police will need to obtain a
court order from a circuit judge before we will release samples. However,
if they inform us that will need to take them away we will store them safely
until such permission is obtained.
Samples will not be released on demand.
I would be interested to hear of any other view or policy concering this
matter.
Michael Rayment
Pathology Manager MLSO-4
Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust
Farnborough Hospital
Orpington Kent BR6 8ND
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