Ethical and Professional Standards Flashcards

Before cremation, the operator finds a pacemaker that was not disclosed on the authorization form. What is the proper step?

Answer: Stop and have the device removed by an authorized person, following policy and notifying the right parties

Pacemakers can explode in the retort, so they must be properly removed and the discrepancy handled before cremating.

A family asks to witness the start of the cremation. Ethically, the crematory should:

Answer: Accommodate the request where facilities and policy allow, with dignity and safety

Respectfully accommodating witnessing builds trust, and any fees should be disclosed in advance.

Commingling the remains of two decedents without written authorization is:

Answer: Prohibited, except in narrow cases such as unavoidable residue or written consent

Cremating more than one body at a time, or mixing remains, generally requires explicit written authorization.

A cremationist recovers dental gold from processed remains. The ethical approach is to:

Answer: Handle it according to the authorization form and disclosed policy, with the family's direction

Any recovered metals must be handled according to the family's authorization and a written policy that was disclosed to them.

Which statement about advertising cremation services is ethically correct?

Answer: Ads must be truthful and not misleading about prices and services

Truthful advertising is required by professional codes and by consumer protection law.

Why should a crematory keep a written chain-of-custody record for each decedent?

Answer: To document positive identification and every transfer from intake to release

Chain-of-custody records prove the remains were identified and tracked at every step.

An operator is asked to sign a cremation certificate for a cremation they did not perform or verify. They should:

Answer: Refuse and make sure the person who actually performed or verified the cremation signs

Certifying records you did not verify is falsification.