“Why would you put my beautiful son’s healthy brain into a bin?”
An investigation has been launched at Cork University Maternity Hospital after multiple baby organs were incinerated, without the parents’ consent or knowledge.
According to RTÉ, 18 families are said to be affected.
The organs of 18 babies were sent to Belgium.
Cork University Maternity Hospital contacted all 18 families to inform them their deceased baby’s organs were incinerated across two days in March and April 2020.
It is understood that the organs should have been returned to the families or assisted the families in burying or cremating them.
The burial space for organs at CUMH was full in 2020, according to RTÉ’s investigation. The hospital failed to find an alternative burial place and stated that cremation was not an option.
The organs were released after post-mortems and were reportedly left in storage in the morgue for several months.
The decision to send the organs for incineration in Belgium was made when the Covid-19 pandemic hit Ireland last March.
The hospital said the decision was made out of “absolute necessity and desperation”.
CUMH has apologised for the “distressing” incident.
CUMH said an investigation is underway, but it is believed to be in the very early stages.
They stressed that the organs were incinerated “under very extenuating and unprecedented circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
It is believed the review will be published in late October or November.
One of the mums affected by the harrowing incident told RTÉ she is still shocked.
Leona Birmingham’s son Lee’s organs were incinerated last year. He passed away in September 2019.
“My son’s brain went into a bin as if it was a piece of rubbish. Why would you put my beautiful son’s healthy brain into a bin?” she commented.
You can read the full report here.
