Contaminated Bone in Bodies of Britons
82 pieces of contaminated bone have been exported from the US and used in 25 UK hospitals.
82 pieces of contaminated bone have been exported from the US and used in 25 UK hospitals. Approximately 40 Britons have been given the contaminated parts, in surgical procedures such as hip replacements and jaw surgery, in addition to other orthopedic procedures.
It has been reported that the contaminated tissue was stolen by American mafia rings from funeral parlours and illegally exported to the UK, to be used in surgery. Amongst the bodies was that of BBC Veteran Alistaire Cooke who died of cancer at the age of 95. There have been a total of up to 1000 corpses stolen, and these were eventully sold for approximately £500 per body, proving the motive for the ring dealers; but how are the people exactly affected?
The contaminated body parts have been exported to several locations in the UK, with 25 hospitals allegedly affected, incuding clinics in Devon, Yorkshire and London. The body parts are thought to have been contaminated with bacteria inducing diseases, such as: Creutzfiels-Jacob disease, which is exremely resistant to the sterilisation generally used in the UK. Moreover, there is also a risk, although minimal, that those who have had the affected tissue implanted in them can retrieve hepatitis C and even HIV.
Britains Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency spokesman claims that the matter is " in the hands" of doctors, similarly to the Royal National Orthopedic Hospitals who feel " it would not be appropriate to contact patients". Additionally, "any adverse reactions would be picked up as a part of the routine follow up of patients". However, ethicists are protesting that the patients have a right to be informed. Due to this, there is now increased awareness on the holes in the law which appear to be inadequately protecting the patients who are now at risk of these diseases.
Additionally, the public was only notified of this atrocity on the 20th Spetember 2006, while authorities had been alerted in the October of last year.
The question remains however, what is to happen to those who have recieved these contaminated body parts? A British Agency spokesman claims that the "affected tissue has been recalled", yet those who have already been implanted with the 82 units of affected bone material are simply left twiddling their thumbs.
It has been reported that the contaminated tissue was stolen by American mafia rings from funeral parlours and illegally exported to the UK, to be used in surgery. Amongst the bodies was that of BBC Veteran Alistaire Cooke who died of cancer at the age of 95. There have been a total of up to 1000 corpses stolen, and these were eventully sold for approximately £500 per body, proving the motive for the ring dealers; but how are the people exactly affected?
The contaminated body parts have been exported to several locations in the UK, with 25 hospitals allegedly affected, incuding clinics in Devon, Yorkshire and London. The body parts are thought to have been contaminated with bacteria inducing diseases, such as: Creutzfiels-Jacob disease, which is exremely resistant to the sterilisation generally used in the UK. Moreover, there is also a risk, although minimal, that those who have had the affected tissue implanted in them can retrieve hepatitis C and even HIV.
Britains Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency spokesman claims that the matter is " in the hands" of doctors, similarly to the Royal National Orthopedic Hospitals who feel " it would not be appropriate to contact patients". Additionally, "any adverse reactions would be picked up as a part of the routine follow up of patients". However, ethicists are protesting that the patients have a right to be informed. Due to this, there is now increased awareness on the holes in the law which appear to be inadequately protecting the patients who are now at risk of these diseases.
Additionally, the public was only notified of this atrocity on the 20th Spetember 2006, while authorities had been alerted in the October of last year.
The question remains however, what is to happen to those who have recieved these contaminated body parts? A British Agency spokesman claims that the "affected tissue has been recalled", yet those who have already been implanted with the 82 units of affected bone material are simply left twiddling their thumbs.