A DISTRAUGHT couple is reliving the grief of their baby's death more than 20 years ago after discovering his tissue is still held at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOS).

Debora and Philip Crawley, of Hartfield Grove, Penge, lost their four-month-old son Ben to liver disease on November 6, 1977.

Now, 24 years on, they have discovered he was one of thousands of infants in the organ and tissue scandal at GOS and other major hospitals.

The couple, who only found out recently Ben's death was caused by both of them having a defective liver gene, are angry with the children's hospital because they thought they had cremated the "whole of Ben's body" 24 years ago.

GOS invited them to a ceremony of remembrance along with 250 other parents, and the couple have asked for the tissue to be cremated.

Pharmacy assistant Mrs Crawley, 46, who has two children, Polly, 22, and Sam, 20, said: "I was devastated when Ben died all those years ago and now our lives have been turned upside down all over again.

"How can a hospital retain a baby's organs and tissue without making it clear to parents what a post mortem examination involves. I signed the form at the time but nobody explained what was going to happen to Ben."

She described the ceremony of remembrance on November 10 as very "moving".

"It was a very emotional day for us. Pages after pages of babies' names were read out who had had organs or tissue removed.

"It's going to take us a long time to get over this but we have decided we want to have Ben's tissue cremated because we don't want it kept at the hospital."

A GOS spokesman said: "Following the organ retention issue, many parents have sought more information about their child's post mortem examinations, and some parents have wanted to discuss the issue of slides.

"These are tiny slivers of tissue to be examined under the microscope.

"A senior member of staff discusses the matter with the family and they have plenty of time to make a decision without pressure.

"We would apologise if any particular case, like that of Mr and Mrs Crawley, some of this was not made clear. GOS now explains very clearly what is involved in the post mortem examination process."

November 26, 2001 9:35