NZ alert for stolen US body parts

The Health Ministry is checking doctors to see if any tissue stolen from American corpses has been implanted into New Zealanders.

The ministry said yesterday its first checks indicated batches of medical products made from the illegally taken human body parts were not commercially imported into New Zealand.

An alleged United States body-snatching ring is said to have harvested the body parts of more than 1000 corpses from funeral parlours.

US police say the bones, skin and ligaments from the dead were sold on the medical market for donated tissue.

Patients given such tissue are at risk of contracting HIV/Aids, hepatitis C and syphilis.

The ministry said illegally taken tissue exported to Australia was included in batches of products including Alloderm, Graft Jacket and Repliform.

The ministry is double-checking that products sent to Australia were not imported into New Zealand.

"We believe the likelihood that any affected batches have been brought into this country is very low but we are double checking with doctors in New Zealand," said chief clinical adviser Sandy Dawson.