On occasion, patients request the return of tissues following a surgical procedure. This may be for various cultural or religious reasons. Patients have a right to have their tissues returned to them. The Trust is preparing a policy document to address this issue.
If there is no need for the tissue to be examined histologically and the patient wishes to take it away immediately, then it does not need to be sent to the Pathology Department. Please talk to Fiona Merriman (Ext 5761) in advance of the surgery.
In some cases, the tissue needs to be examined histologically. The residue will then be returned to the patient by the Pathology Department. Sometimes the patient is hospitalised or is uncertain as to what he wants done with the tissue, in which case it can be stored by the Pathology Department. In such cases, please speak to Paul Purnell or Wayne Slatford (Ext 4804). Written advice as to the hazards of the formalin fixative used will be given to the patient.