Legal Question on Pathology Specimens

[atretina]

At my job we often take specimens which are sent for pathology. However, some patients do not have insurance and cannot cover the costs of pathology testing. Of course, we always send specimens such as mole removals, cysts etc. However, some specimens we do not send.

A few weeks ago my mother was having a cyst on her eye lanced and drained. She asked the ophthalmologist if he was excising the duct and the physician responded no - because if he removed the skin he would HAVE to send the sample to the lab for pathology as it is illegal to remove tissue from a patient without sending the tissue to pathology.

I have tried to do some research on whether or not this statement is true. I have not been able to come up with a clear answer. Moving forward, it is always better to be safe rather than sorry, but I just wanted some clarification on this issue.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Well, I can tell you that we routinely remove tissue in OB (placentas) and aren't required to send them to pathology.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

The best place to clarify would be with the office or surgery center where your mothers chat was removed. Working in the OR, I know that we have a list of exceptions to what must be sent to pathology- although a surgeon can request everything to be sent even if it's on the exception list.