Tasmanian Coroner Finds Historic Misconduct in Body Part Retention

A coroner's investigation has revealed that pathologists in Tasmania between 1966 and 1991 may have actively sourced body parts from coronial autopsies to be given to the R A Rodda Museum of Pathology at the University of Tasmania, without the knowledge or consent of families or coroners. This shocking discovery has raised serious ethical and legal concerns about the handling of human remains in the past.

The investigation, which began in 2016 after the museum raised concerns about three specimens retained without consent, was led by Coroner Simon Cooper. His findings concluded that Dr. Royal Cummings and his predecessors and successors likely engaged in the practice of retaining body parts for the museum, despite legal and ethical standards.

Under current and past laws, body parts sourced or retained as part of coronial investigations cannot be used for medical research or education without family consent. The coroner emphasized that retaining human remains without family or coronial approval is offensive to contemporary standards and values.

The emotional toll on families affected by the retention of their loved ones' remains has been profound. John Santi, whose brother's brain was retained in the museum's collection, described the distress of learning about the retention of his brother's body parts. Similarly, Alby, whose daughter's specimen was retained without family knowledge, expressed the ongoing emotional impact of the discovery.

In response to the findings, the University of Tasmania issued an apology for the historic practice and stated that it no longer occurs. This case is not an isolated incident, as the issue of retaining specimens without consent was previously highlighted in the 1998 Bristol Royal Infirmary case and the 2001 Walker Inquiry in Australia.

The Rodda Museum contacted the Coroners' Office in 2016, leading to the discovery that 177 specimens were retained, with about 100 identified and handled according to family wishes. Cooper ordered the removal of the specimens from display in 2018 but did not make specific recommendations for further action.

As this case highlights, the ethical handling of human remains is a matter of profound importance. It underscores the need for transparency, accountability, and respect for the wishes of families in all medical and research practices involving human tissue.