Tasmania apologises for unauthorised use of body parts | ABC NEWS

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]Tasmania's health minister rising to apologize for a wrong that continues to cause grief and pain for many families.

[00:00:09]The Tasmanian government and the Tasmanian Parliament unreservedly apologizes to all individuals and families affected by the human organs and tissue samples stolen by forensic and hospital pathologists employed by the Department of Health and provided to the Roder Museum. Between 1966 and 1991, 177 specimens were taken without consent and given to the Pathology Museum at the University of Tasmania.

[00:00:39]>> Today, this parliament is considering a motion that acknowledges one of the most profound failures of public institutions in our state's history.

[00:00:46]>> It wasn't until last year that this was made public, retraumatizing families.

[00:00:53]The government systems had fa failed our father while he was alive and in death and now with the taking of his body part and us as a family.

[00:01:08]>> All the time this has taken the trauma of it all for all the not only me but for all the families has been horrendous and it's time to do something about it.

[00:01:20]Part of me wants to accept this apology, but part of me can't, if that makes sense. It because it's just too it's the trauma is still there. It's still hard.

[00:01:31]>> About 60 people were here in the public gallery for the apology. Some holding photographs of their loved ones. A coronial investigation found that now dead forensic pathologist Dr. Royal Cummings was responsible for providing most of the specimens. The health department has since identified more people who were involved.

[00:01:51]>> The findings of this internal investigation, including the details of those identified as likely being involved, has been provided by the Department of Health Secretary to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

[00:02:02]>> We will provide any records that we have in relation to these matters, and we continue to search those records to see if we have any additional information.

[00:02:10]>> Today's apology is not the end. Families have been assured their voices will continue to be listened to. Loretta Loberger, ABC News.