Disposal of Specimens belonging to Muslims not collected from the lab

Question

As-salaamu Alaykum

We are a pathology company that performs diagnostic tests on human tissue. It has come to our attention that some tissue samples from Muslim patients are not being collected by the patient or their family for proper disposal according to Islamic rites.

Our company policy is to incinerate processed specimens; however, we respect and acknowledge religious customs. For this reason, we contact patients or their families (using details on the pathology form) to arrange collection. Unfortunately, we have been unable to reach some Muslim patients, resulting in uncollected specimens still in our possession.

When collection takes place, the person collecting the specimen provides identification, completes the necessary forms, and the specimen is handed over in an unmarked container.

Samples may include amputated limbs (foot, leg, arm), organs (breast, pancreas, liver, kidney, cervix, placenta), or smaller biopsy samples. We also receive miscarriages at varying gestational ages.

We seek guidance on the following:

1- Are there any time limits to when a tissue sample/organ/limb must be buried? (As this will facilitate us making the necessary arrangements to have these samples disposed off correctly as per Islamic rites/customs). 2- From our samples we also receive miscarriages and the age of gestation can vary. Please advise how to dispose of miscarriages. 3- Is it permissible to have different people’s tissue buried in one grave?

Shukran

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

1. In Islam, parts severed from a living body deserve the same respect accorded to a deceased body.
2. Such respect is demonstrated through burial, preferably in a cemetery, but also acceptable in any clean area.
3. Incineration of severed body parts would be incompatible with the required respect.
4. There are a few points on which the disposal of severed body parts differ with the ritual burial of a deceased body:

4.1 The disposal of severed body parts is not accompanied by any specific ritual procedures.
4.2 There is no specific time limit for the disposal of severed body parts.
4.3 The burial of corpses is obligatory, whereas the burial of severed body parts is
preferable.

5. Against this backing, the answers to your specific questions are as follows:

5.1 There are no specific time limits to the disposal of severed body parts whether they be samples, organs, limbs or foetuses.
5.2 Miscarried foetuses should preferably be buried either in a cemetery or in any clean piece of earth. Incinerating them is incompatible with the respect they ought to be shown.
5.3 It is permissible to bury tissues from different people in one grave.

والله تعالى أعلم
And Allāh knows best

Issued: October 2018

MJC (SA)

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