Bereaved relatives wanted a public inquiry

The review group was set up following controversy over the retention of children's organs by some Scottish hospitals without the consent of parents.

It also followed the scandal at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool where thousands of organs were taken from children's bodies, again without the consent or knowledge of parents.

Professor Sheila McLean, an ethics expert at Glasgow University, led a review group which prepared the report at the request of Ms Deacon.

Its report extended recommendations made in an earlier interim report in February, when Ms Deacon promised that the organs of dead children would never again be removed without their parents' full consent.

Speaking on Friday, Ms Deacon said the recommendations provided an "opportunity to right past wrongs" and highlighted the need to change outdated legislation.

She said she accepted the need for stronger legislation to ensure proper consideration of the rights of parents and families and promised to look at options for overhauling the system.

Publicity campaign

The minister said there would be new measures to support parents and families, including guidance on options for sensitive disposal of organs.

She also promised be a publicity campaign to pave the way for a five-year period during which relatives could reclaim organs from Scottish hospitals.

However, the minister again refused to bow to calls from bereaved parents for a full public inquiry into the Scottish organs controversy and said the majority of parents had welcomed the review group's approach.

The report seeks to review 40-year-old legislation

Ms Deacon said: "Changing the law will take time to get right but it will be time worth taking.

"The implications for the current 1961 Human Tissue Act are clearly significant.

"I want to underline today this executive's commitment to change the legislation in this area to strengthen the rights of parents and relatives."

The minister said she accepted Prof McLean's point that the Scottish Executive may need to consider separate legislation if difficulties arise in pursuing change on a UK-wide basis.

Ms Deacon said plans to consult on the proposals would probably take about four months, but warned that it could take years to enact new legislation.

However, she said that changes in practice would begin almost immediately on the basis of the recommendations in the report.