Police Investigate Alleged Harvesting Of Body Parts At Birmingham Private Hospital

• Published date: 01 October 2020
• Subject Matter: Litigation, Mediation & Arbitration, Food, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Professional Negligence
• Law Firm: Leigh Day
• Author: Leigh Day

West Mercia Police confirmed to the newspaper that they are investigating an allegation of breach of statutory licensing requirements under the Human Tissue Act 2004 following a referral from the Human Tissue Authority.

It is reported that thousands of patients may have been involved.

The Independent reports that it has seen a leaked internal report which states that surgeon Derek McMinn harvested the bones of patients removed during hip surgery at the BMI Edgbaston Hospital.

Staff at the hospital reportedly knew about and assisted in the collection and storage of joints.

The hospital had been alerted to its responsibilities under the Human Tissue Act following an audit between 2010 and 2015 which identified the storage of femoral heads, the Independent reports.

The newspaper says that BMI Healthcare's parent company Circle Health says patients had not been informed because no significant harm had taken place.

The Care Quality Commission has told The Independent that it had not been aware of the size of the issue. The BMI report suggests at least 5,224 samples had been taken, says the Independent.

Mr McMinn remains registered to practise, although the General Medical Council has been informed about BMI, says the Independent.

McMinn also reported to have operated...