BMS Bachelor of Mortuary Science Mortuary Law and Ethics Questions and Answers Flashcards

Under the FTC Funeral Rule, which of the following is a funeral home REQUIRED to provide to consumers over the telephone?

Answer: Price information for any item requested

The FTC Funeral Rule mandates that funeral providers must give price information over the phone for any goods or services they offer when asked.

A funeral director discovers that a decedent's family has conflicting wishes regarding disposition, and no written directive exists. In most U.S. jurisdictions, who typically has the primary legal right to control disposition?

Answer: The surviving spouse

In most states, the surviving spouse holds the primary legal right to control the disposition of remains when no pre-need directive exists.

Which ethical principle is MOST directly violated when a funeral director steers a grieving family toward the most expensive casket without presenting all available options?

Answer: Autonomy

Failing to present all options undermines the family's autonomy by restricting their ability to make a fully informed decision.

What is the primary legal purpose of requiring funeral directors to obtain a burial-transit permit before transporting human remains across state lines?

Answer: To track the chain of custody and verify cause of death documentation

Burial-transit permits ensure proper chain of custody documentation and verify that the cause of death has been certified before remains are transported.

A funeral home advertises 'complete funeral services starting at $1,995' but the actual minimum cost with required fees totals $3,200. This practice most likely violates which regulation?

Answer: FTC Act Section 5 prohibition on deceptive advertising

Advertising a misleadingly low price that does not reflect mandatory charges constitutes deceptive advertising under Section 5 of the FTC Act.

In the context of mortuary ethics, what does the concept of 'informed consent' require BEFORE embalming may be performed?

Answer: Written or verbal authorization from the legally authorized person

Informed consent for embalming requires that the legally authorized person grants permission after being told that embalming is not required by law in most cases.