The disposal of human tissues in the UK is subject to the provision of the Human Tissue Act 2004 that has created particular difficulties for medical historians, archivists, researchers and routine laboratory analysts in hospitals. Added to that, the predominantly US ‘hysteria’ over the disposal of miscellaneous tissues from soldiers killed in batter, and/or requiring extensive surgery after battlefield injuries has seen all sorts of heartfelt but often unrealistic demands that bodies must be buried intact to preserve their dignity. See this.

Even if blown to bits, it seems that there has been – it’s quietened down now – a wave of hysterical claims that more should be done to collect tissue fragments and bury the dead intact. Impossible, of course, and strangely something that can be managed also by a substantial compensation payout, so make of that what you will.

Has this strange attitude resurfaced, in Sweden, where a woman who had endured a mastectomy wanted the breast returned to her so that she could bury it with the dignity of a funeral?

Let’s hope the idea does not catch on! Is that what we want buried in the garden, waiting for the cat/dog/foxes/rats to uncover?