FREE BMS Bachelor of Mortuary Science Funeral Service Law and Ethics Questions and Answers

Question 1

A family is arranging a funeral for a deceased individual who left no written instructions for the disposition of their remains.
A dispute arises between the surviving spouse and the adult children regarding the choice between burial and cremation.
According to the general priority of the right of disposition in most U.S. jurisdictions, who has the ultimate authority to make this decision?

Accepted Answer

The surviving spouse.

Answer

The adult children, by majority vote.

Answer

The executor of the estate named in the will.

Answer

The funeral director, who acts as a neutral mediator.

Question 2

Under the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Funeral Rule, which of the following actions is a funeral provider legally required to take when a consumer inquires about services?

Accepted Answer

Provide a General Price List (GPL) that itemizes the costs of goods and services.

Answer

Offer a package deal that includes non-declinable basic services.

Answer

Require the purchase of a casket from their funeral home for a traditional viewing.

Answer

Obtain verbal permission before beginning the embalming process.

Question 3

A funeral home is arranging a service for a family and several attendees are deaf and require a sign language interpreter. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), what is the funeral home's primary responsibility?

Accepted Answer

To provide and pay for a qualified sign language interpreter as a reasonable accommodation.

Answer

To inform the family that they must hire and pay for their own interpreter.

Answer

To provide the service only if the family agrees to add the interpreter's fee to the funeral bill.

Answer

To suggest the family hold the service at a religious facility, which is exempt from ADA.

Question 4

Which of the following is a key requirement for funeral homes under OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030)?

Accepted Answer

Developing a written Exposure Control Plan and updating it annually.

Answer

Mandating Hepatitis B vaccination for all employees, regardless of their role.

Answer

Providing personal protective equipment (PPE) only upon employee request.

Answer

Conducting bloodborne pathogen training for new hires only.

Question 5

A funeral director is completing a Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected. The cost for the certified copies of the death certificate is unknown at the time of the arrangement. How should this be handled on the statement according to the FTC Funeral Rule?

Accepted Answer

The funeral director must provide a written "good faith estimate" for the cash advance item.

Answer

The item should be left off the statement until the final bill is prepared.

Answer

The funeral director should use the cost from the previous case as the official charge.

Answer

The family must pay the funeral home a deposit specifically for this unknown cost.

Question 6

A pre-need contract is signed by a client for a guaranteed funeral service package. Years later, at the time of need, the funeral home's prices for the selected services have increased significantly. What is the funeral home's ethical and contractual obligation?

Accepted Answer

The funeral home must honor the original price for the guaranteed services and merchandise.

Answer

The family must pay the difference between the original contract price and current prices.

Answer

The funeral home can substitute lower-quality merchandise to offset the price increase.

Answer

The contract is void, and the family receives a full refund of the original amount paid.