Hospital: ‘Missing’ organs, newspaper part of international autopsy standard

MANILA, Philippines - The Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC) observed international standards for autopsies when its personnel performed the procedure on a teenage girl who died of illness last Sept. 10, an official said yesterday.

QMMC chief Dr. Angeles de Leon issued the statement after Nerissa Buatis’ parents, Wenifreda and Cesar, complained that their daughter’s organs were missing and her abdominal, chest and skull cavities stuffed with newspaper.

Buatis reportedly had pelvic tuberculosis and there were lumps in her stomach. She underwent operation on Sept. 8 but died two days later.

A doctor recommended an autopsy to determine what caused the teenager’s death, the parents said.

De Leon said the hospital staff explained to Buatis’ parents that the procedure “entails harvesting all the diseased organs and, if necessary, it includes the brain and spinal cord of the patient.”

She also said the parents were also told the organs “may not be returned immediately to the family pending examinations” and “that if deemed necessary it includes the brain and spinal cord.”

De Leon said the international standard indicates that the hospital’s pathology department would “retain tissues and organs if deemed necessary for the completion of the examination.”

She also said it is part of “standard procedure to stuff the abdominal cavity with a sponge, cloth or newspaper” to “preserve the contour of the deceased’s body.”

Last Sept. 12, Wenifreda told ABS-CBN they had yet to receive the autopsy results and no official faced them to explain why their daughter’s organs were missing and her body stuffed with newspaper. She said they will file charges against the hospital.