NSW Health Human Tissue Project
NSW Health participated in a national campaign to provide the public with an opportunity to inquire about human tissue, which includes organ and bone samples, that may have been kept at an autopsy (also known as a post mortem) performed on a family member in the past.
Human tissue that has been kept after an autopsy provides immeasurable benefits in training health staff about human diseases.
Knowledge gained from research of human tissue from autopsies has enabled improvements in the quality of life in many communities through substantial gains in knowledge about detection, prevention and treatment of diseases.
As a part of the campaign, each state and territory established dedicated phone lines to assist families wishing to know more about autopsy performed on a family member in the past. After four years of operation, the NSW inquiry phone line is now closed.
Further Information
To obtain further information about a past autopsy in NSW, you will need to be an immediate family member of the person who had an autopsy, or a person authorised by an immediate family member acting on their behalf. The law regarding disclosure of information may be different in other Australian states and territories.
An immediate family member is a person who has one of the following relationships with the deceased person:
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spouse
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defacto partner
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mother
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father
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son
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daughter
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brother
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sister
If you have an inquiry about a past autopsy of a family member, please contact Malynda Flarey on (02) 9391 9524, Clinical Policy, NSW Health.
This web page is managed and authorised by Web Services Development of the NSW Department of Health. Last updated: 27 March, 2009