Sir, - Everyone is very sorry for bereaved parents, especially those suffering because of the present investigation into organ retention.
Would it be possible for the different parties, parents, hospital staff, health board officials, volunteer organisations, etc., to work together to solve the problems that exist today? Investigating the past is time-consuming and would be no help to the babies who died.
It could, however, put ill babies at risk by taking medical personnel away from the wards, etc. Doctors and hospital staff did their best for their patients in the past, as they do today. What the pathologists did here was in line with practice in the UK and the US and was in accordance with what appeared to be the best practice at the time.
I have no personal involvement and do not know any of the present doctors, but I have much gratitude for the excellent care and kindness my patients and their parents received throughout the years from Our Lady's in Crumlin and other hospitals. - Yours, etc.,
M. Brady, MB, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.