UK calls emergency organ summit to combat scandal

Top surgeons have warned that public fear and revulsion inthe wake of the report has led to a severe drop in the number of organs being donated for transplantation.

Milburn will meet with surgeons, transplant organisations,and medical unions in an effort to find ways to restore confidence in the transplantation programme.

"Our aim is to maintain confidence in the programme and(make) sure people feel reassured they will be treated with dignity and respect," Milburn told the Independent on Sunday newspaper.

Milburn will consider asking employers to include donorcards in employees’ pay packets to encourage greater participation in the transplant programme.

Eminent heart surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub said there had beenno organ transplant operations performed at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, a leading transplant centre, since the report was released last week.

Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth hospital has also experienceda similar drop-off.

"There are a large number of patients who will almostcertainly die if this trend continues," Yacoub was quoted as saying by the Times.

Dick van Velzen, the Dutch pathologist at the centre of theAlder Hey scandal was suspended from the British medical register on Friday.

Van Velzen told the Sunday Times he had been made ascapegoat and alleged dozens of other medical staff were also involved in the process of unauthorised organ stripping.