Redfern Report: Main Points

LIVERPOOL, England -- The main findings of the inquiry, chaired by Michael Redfern QC, into the retention of organs at the UK's Alder Hey hospital were as follows:

Dutch cot death expert and pathologist Professor Dick van Velzen, who was head of pathology at Alder Hey from 1988 to 1995, "lied to parents," "stole records" and "falsified reports."

He ordered the "systematic stripping of every organ from every child who had a post mortem at Alder Hey."

Alder Hey stored 2,000 children's hearts, a large number of brain parts, eyes taken from foetuses and over 1,500 stillbirths of foetuses. Most were not used for medical research.

Parents were not asked whether they would be willing to donate the organs of their deceased children.

The report gave details of a collection of children's heads and intact bodies dating back to the 1960s. It included the head of an 11-year-old boy the whole body of a child.

Documentation about the collection were "shocking and disrespectful", said the report, with one entry relating to a nine-week-old foetus read: "Inflated monster. Humpty Dumpty."

Van Velzen has been called before the General Medical Council and will never be allowed to work in the UK again. He is also being reported to the UK's Director of Public Prosecutions.

Four other National Health Service staff, including Alder Hey's chief executive, have been suspended, while the acting chairman of the hospital's trust and two non-executive directors of the trust have resigned.

The inquiry report has been passed to Merseyside Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions, who will decide whether to pursue criminal prosecutions.

Organs scandal hospital under fire
Alder Hey: Tarnished centre of excellence

Alder Hey Hospital
The Redfern Inquiry
Department of Health

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