text: Home >> Newsroom \nNewsroom\n \n\nNSW 1 - 800 Human Tissue Inquiry Line \n24 February 2003\n\nNSW Chief Health Officer Dr Greg Stewart announced today the establishment of a NSW Health 1 - 800 Human Tissue Inquiry Line to assist people with concerns about autopsies (post mortems) and tissue retention.\n\nThe telephone number is 1800 225 822 and the inquiry line will be operational from 7am, Monday, February 24.\n\nDr Stewart said the inquiry line supported a national campaign underway to return human tissue and bone retained after autopsy for teaching, research or testing, to families.\n\nIn Australia there are two reasons for an autopsy: \n\nHospital autopsy: Families may request an autopsy, or a doctor may seek permission from family for an autopsy. A hospital autopsy can't be performed without the permission of either the family or the person before they died.\n\nCoronial autopsy: Some deaths (including those where the cause of death is unknown or where the person has died of unnatural causes such as an accident or suicide) must be reported to the Coroner. The Coroner decides if an autopsy is needed. The permission of the next of kin is not required for a coronial autopsy.