This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/6566903.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Body parts checks at nuclear site Dounreay in human tissue checks
(about 3 hours later)
The operator of a Scottish nuclear site has begun checks on whether body parts were removed from deceased ex-workers without the consent of their families. The operator of a Scottish nuclear site has begun checks on whether body tissue was removed from deceased ex-workers without the consent of their families.
It follows claims that samples were taken from former Sellafield employees who died in the 1960s.It follows claims that samples were taken from former Sellafield employees who died in the 1960s.
The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) said it was looking into whether there was any connection to Dounreay.The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) said it was looking into whether there was any connection to Dounreay.
Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling said the removal of tissue from 65 Sellafield workers would be probed.Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling said the removal of tissue from 65 Sellafield workers would be probed.
He told the Commons he had asked Michael Redfern, QC, who conducted the Alder Hey inquiry into the removal of organs from children, to investigate the claims.He told the Commons he had asked Michael Redfern, QC, who conducted the Alder Hey inquiry into the removal of organs from children, to investigate the claims.
British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL), which owns Sellafield, confirmed that autopsy material had been used for "legally correct" purposes such as inquests.British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL), which owns Sellafield, confirmed that autopsy material had been used for "legally correct" purposes such as inquests.
Experimental reactorExperimental reactor
Responding to a call from John Thurso, Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, for the inquiry to investigate other nuclear installations Mr Darling said he had no record that any of the cases were connected with Dounreay. Responding to a call from John Thurso, Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, for the inquiry to investigate other nuclear installations, Mr Darling said he had no record that any of the cases were connected to Dounreay.
However, the Prospect union has called for that inquiry to be extended to the site.However, the Prospect union has called for that inquiry to be extended to the site.
It said it was unclear whether a similar practice had taken place at Dounreay, a former experimental reactor facility, in Caithness.It said it was unclear whether a similar practice had taken place at Dounreay, a former experimental reactor facility, in Caithness.
Asked if the practice at Sellafield happened at Dounreay, a Prospect spokesman said: "We are equally as concerned to establish that ourselves."Asked if the practice at Sellafield happened at Dounreay, a Prospect spokesman said: "We are equally as concerned to establish that ourselves."
He said body parts may have been transported from other sites to be stored at Sellafield. He said body tissue may have been transported from other sites to be stored at Sellafield.
Tests were carried out between the 1960s and 1990s, said BNFLTests were carried out between the 1960s and 1990s, said BNFL
The GMB union, which had claimed that samples were taken from up to 70 former Sellafield employees who died in the 1960s, said Dounreay had not been brought to its attention.The GMB union, which had claimed that samples were taken from up to 70 former Sellafield employees who died in the 1960s, said Dounreay had not been brought to its attention.
However, a spokesman said an inquiry would "double check" if the site was involved.However, a spokesman said an inquiry would "double check" if the site was involved.
John Walford, who worked at Dounreay in the 1950s and was head of its health and safety division for 10 years until he retired in 1990, said he was not aware of body parts being removed from former workers without consent, or being stored at the facility. John Walford, who worked at Dounreay in the 1950s and was head of its health and safety division for 10 years until he retired in 1990, said he was not aware of body tissue being removed from former workers without consent, or being stored at the facility.
He told BBC Scotland: "There was a very small handlful of people known to me who bequeathed their bodies after death for medical research and this happens of course in the population at large." He told BBC Scotland: "There was a very small handful of people known to me who bequeathed their bodies after death for medical research and this happens of course in the population at large."