Parents' needs GOS realises the pain and distress that this issue has caused. As should be evident we have changed our practices in order to prevent future hurt. We must emphasise that organs were and are retained only for decent motives - the better training of surgeons, and research into fatal and disabling diseases. For example, death rates from some congenital heart conditions have been dramatically reduced as a result of research done in the last thirty years. GOS and the Institute of Child Health form a major part of this country's training programme for paediatric doctors and nurses, and a major centre of research into disability and disease.
Parents deserve to be fully consulted.
Together with doctors and researchers, they can help us understand deaths today and to prevent future tragedies.