Saturday, January 13, 2007

For your eyes only!

Part II of the Umberto I hospital scandal. It now appears from a second “Espresso” magazine investigation that the bodies of the deceased who are transported along the tunnels of Rome’s Umberto I hospital to the morgue have had their corneas (illegally) removed! Yes indeed, there’s also a very flourishing business in the world of eyeballs (and not only in eyeballs in Italy!). In order to prevent corneas from being illegally removed, some cadavers of the dearly departed have also been escorted with private security guards.

The Italian association governing the donation of corneas naturally denies such horrific practices whereas the director of the Umberto I has confirmed the illegal use of removing corneas. The problem also arises from the fact that few out there would necessarily open the eyes of their beloved mother or grandfather prior to burial in order to confirm if their corneas are indeed in place, but the latest scandal coming out of Italy’s largest hospital does make you wonder a wee bit if old gramps has his pupils in place or not!

No comments: