Woman asks for removed breast back

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JONKOPING, Sweden, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- A woman in Jonkoping, Sweden, has been authorized to bury her recently removed breast, officials said.

The woman asked that a biobank asked for her removed breast back so she could give it a proper burial, The Local.se reported.

The biobank reached out the National Board of Health and Welfare for guidance of the issue of returning the breast.

"We have received an unusual request and I would like to have assistance with the legal aspects of the issue. A patient has had her breast removed and wants it 'back' to bury it," a coordinator from the facility said in an email.

In an email on Thursday, a lawyer representing the board said there is no law that would stop the biobank from complying with the woman's request.

"There is in principle no hinder according to the rules to release a patient's tissue or body part to the patient following an operation/amputation if this doesn't pose any risk for public health," the lawyer said.