UK Hospital admits to burning aborted babies in waste incinerator
Pastor Dale Morgan
UK Hospital admits to burning aborted babies in waste incinerator*
By JAMES SLACK
THE DAILY MAIL
One of the country's leading hospitals is throwing aborted babies into
the same incinerator used for rubbish to save only £18.50 each time, it
has emerged.
Addenbrooke's Hospital, in Cambridge, said it was no longer able to
afford the dignified disposal at a local crematorium of foetuses from
unwanted pregnancies.
Instead, they are being burnt in the hospital's main incinerator - which
is normally used for rubbish and clinical waste.
The revelation sparked anger and distress among church leaders and
pro-life groups, as well as women whose pregnancies were terminated at
the hospital.
Addenbrooke's adopts a different policy for unborn babies which are
miscarried before 24 weeks.
They are either cremated at a crematorium , buried at a cemetery, or
passed to the parents if they wish to make their own arrangements.
Dr Anthony Russell, Bishop of Ely, said: "I am sorry to know this is the
practice currently being adopted by the hospital. I recognise there is a
wide range of responses to this issue, but believe the disposal of
foetuses should be undertaken reverently and with dignity."
Pro-life groups claim that, while not illegal, it goes against the
spirit of guidelines issued by the Royal College of Nursing.
The RCN's guide, Sensitive Disposal of all Foetal Remains, says disposal
alongside clinical waste is 'completely unacceptable'.
It adds: 'It is acknowledged that sometimes parents don't recognise
their loss at the time, but may return months or even years later to
enquire about the disposal arrangements.
'Therefore, it is important to respect the wishes of parents who may not
want to be involved, but to ensure also that sensitive and dignified
disposal is carried out.'
Lisa Wilson, of the ProLife Alliance, said: "What absolute horror. Has
our society lost even a minimum concept of the humanity of the unborn
child and the respect due to these tiny victims of our ruthless
legislation?"
Michaela Aston, spokesman for pro-life charity Life, said: "The fact
they are now disposing of human remains like they would any other waste
product shows what society and this hospital has come to.
"It is just so disgusting. What has happened to the dignity of the human
being? It reflects increasingly certain people in society's attitudes to
the unborn child just flushing them away, or burning them like any other
waste. How can we let this happen in a civilised society?"
One local woman, who asked not to be named, said after the heartache of
deciding to have an abortion she was mortified to find the hospital had
used the same furnace they burn rubbish in to incinerate her terminated
baby.
She said: "I am furious and very hurt. Imagine my horror when I
discovered that my baby was incinerated in the same furnace as the
hospital rubbish."
Hospital managers said they had to take the decision after 'significant
increases' in the fees charged by Cambridge City Crematorium, where they
were previously buried or cremated.
The hospital, under pressure along with the rest of the NHS to make
millions of pounds of savings, said it was trying to be 'careful with
the use of limited resources'.
In June, it emerged cash-strapped health chiefs had to cut a total of
£28 million from NHS spending in Cambridgeshire.
The so-called 'turnaround plan', aimed at clawing back a forecast debt
of £45.9 million, forced Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire Primary
Care Trusts take a scalpel to demand savings of £15m from Addenbrooke's.
This is despite the hospital having a surplus of £3.5m at the end of the
last financial year.
The reduction was to be achieved 'by treating fewer people and working
more efficiently'. An Addenbrooke's spokesman said aborted foetuses used
to be cremated free at Cambridge Crematorium but a price rise to £18.50
in 2005 forced the hospital to use its own incinerator.
She said rubbish was not disposed of at the same time as foetal tissue
and the incinerator was booked in advance.
A white sheet is placed over the front of the furnace and the process is
witnessed by two members of staff working in bereavement care.
In a statement, the hospital added: 'The arrangements Addenbrooke's has
in place to dispose of unwanted foetal tissue comply with the
recommendations of the Retained Organs Commission (ROC).
'Following the termination of unwanted pregnancy, foetal tissue is
disposed of within the hospital incinerator in a sensitive and
respectful manner.
'The incinerator is cleared of all other material, and no other waste is
dealt with at the same time as the foetal tissue.
'The process is organised and witnessed by two members of staff who are
specialists in bereavement care.
'Until recently the hospital used the services of Cambridge Crematorium,
but due to significant rises in the cost we are charged, this option is
no longer open to us.
'This comes at a time when we have to be careful with the use of limited
resources, and we have had to consider other options which comply with
the ROC guidance.
'Patients undergoing termination of unwanted pregnancy are informed that
disposal will be within the hospital. If patients request additional
information, they are put in touch with a member of the bereavement team
who meets the patient and discusses in detail the arrangements.'
'We hope to have further discussions with the crematorium and the City
Council to consider affordable alternatives.'