We no longer release any tissue to a patient that comes to our Pathology Laboratory in formalin, and our Legal Department supports this decision. I know that our "Labor & Delivery" Unit has released placentas to patients; however, if the specimen doesn't come to Pathology, we don't get involved. For certain types of specimens received in formalin (POC, fetus, amputation, etc.) a patient can request the release of their specimen, but they have to make arrangements with a funeral home or mortuary to take procession of the specimen here at the hospital and, yes, they (funeral home/mortuary) must sign the release form.
Please keep in mind that each state may have statues on the release of human tissue to patients or their families. I also know that some towns here in CT have ordinances preventing residents from burying human tissue on their property. Richard Richard W. Cartun, MS, PhD Director, Histology & The Martin M. Berman, MD Immunopathology/Morphologic Proteomics Laboratory Assistant Director, Anatomic Pathology Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Hartford Hospital 80 Seymour Street Hartford, CT 06102 (860) 972-1596 Office (860) 545-2204 (Fax) -----Original Message----- From: Nancy Schmitt via Histonet [mailto:histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2021 12:33 PM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] release of body parts This email is from outside HHC. BE CAREFUL when opening attachments or links from unknown senders. Hello- We are seeing a bit more of patients that are requesting to take their body parts with them (uterus, POC, etc); I am talking home - not the funeral home. Are you using a release of body parts form to fill out with the patient? Are you draining off the formalin, or sending in formalin with parafilm around the lid? Thank you for your thoughts, Nancy Schmitt MLT, HT(ASCP) Pathology Support Services Dubuque, IA 52001 Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail, including any attachments is the property of Trinity Health and is intended for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). It may contain information that is privileged and confidential. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete this message, and reply to the sender regarding the error in a separate email. _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet__;!!KCs9X-8!Ls4flMgYVSY7YCD1T7Gjds4KhtEHb3BOoEcnwu4dOdSCDB0AuE9PAY4C6bzFO2P3djs$ Reminder: This e-mail and any attachments are subject to the current HHC email retention policies. Please save or store appropriately in accordance with policy. This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message, including any attachments. _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet