The inquiry will be led by Dr Jeremy Metters

The brain was deemed not to be useful for research, and was kept on a shelf until it was incinerated in 1993.

Mrs Isaacs only found out what had happened by accident.

The details were revealed by chance during an unrelated General Medical Council investigation into her husband's GP.

Answerphone message

After a three month investigation a pathologist left a message on her answerphone confirming her husband's brain had been retained.

The family were particularly upset because they are strict Jews and religious law requires that the body is buried intact.

There are nearly 24,000 human brains in hospitals and medical schools, but it's not known how many were removed with consent.

A spokeswoman for Mind the mental health charity, said "We know this isn't an isolated case, but we don't know who and where the others are."

A Department of Health spokeswoman told BBC News Online: "There was a meeting between Mrs Isaacs and the Chief Medical Officer at which it was agreed there would be an investigation.

"The terms of reference are being worked out, and will then be agreed with the family."