J
jtjohnson
Guest
What is the name of your state? Minnesota
HI, This may seem like a weird question, but I need to know who is right. I had a miscarriage a while ago, and had to go the hospital for a d&c. I have called the Pathology dept. at the hospital to see if I could get the remains for burial. I was told most of the remains were submitted for examination, and saved in paraffin blocks and slides, while the rest was incinerated as medical waste. The pathologist said there were no "grossly identifiable fetal parts" found, so it wasn't sent for burial. But after a d&c, I don't think much would be identifiable(not to be too graphic). MN has a law that fetal remains must be buried or cremated respectfully. So, were they within the law to incinerate the rest of the remains without examining them microscopically to look for fetal tissue? They have no written document stating exactly what was done with all of the remains. Is that legal/ethical?
And secondly, after bothering the pathologist enough, he agreed to release the paraffin blocks of tissue to me that they have saved from the path exam for burial, but refused to release the slides of the miscarriage remains that they have. Who exactly do the fetal remains belong to after the hospital procedure and pathology exam? He says legally I have no right to the slides, that they keep them for 25 years, yet he willingly will release the rest of the remains to me. What is the deal here? All I want is what belonged to me in the first place, so I can put closure on this. Don't I have the right to all the remains(they are generally labeled 'products of conception' in the path report) should I want them?
HI, This may seem like a weird question, but I need to know who is right. I had a miscarriage a while ago, and had to go the hospital for a d&c. I have called the Pathology dept. at the hospital to see if I could get the remains for burial. I was told most of the remains were submitted for examination, and saved in paraffin blocks and slides, while the rest was incinerated as medical waste. The pathologist said there were no "grossly identifiable fetal parts" found, so it wasn't sent for burial. But after a d&c, I don't think much would be identifiable(not to be too graphic). MN has a law that fetal remains must be buried or cremated respectfully. So, were they within the law to incinerate the rest of the remains without examining them microscopically to look for fetal tissue? They have no written document stating exactly what was done with all of the remains. Is that legal/ethical?
And secondly, after bothering the pathologist enough, he agreed to release the paraffin blocks of tissue to me that they have saved from the path exam for burial, but refused to release the slides of the miscarriage remains that they have. Who exactly do the fetal remains belong to after the hospital procedure and pathology exam? He says legally I have no right to the slides, that they keep them for 25 years, yet he willingly will release the rest of the remains to me. What is the deal here? All I want is what belonged to me in the first place, so I can put closure on this. Don't I have the right to all the remains(they are generally labeled 'products of conception' in the path report) should I want them?