Funeral directors’ conduct is governed by the code of professional conduct according to which they are obligated to family of the deceased, care of the decedent, public, government and NFDA i.e National Funeral Directors Association. Obligation to each of these is driven by an ethical principle.
As to how a funeral home director should react to the situation contained in the first question, the director may assure that the body has been embalmed in a scientific manner complying with state and federal rules and regulations and in accordance with the wishes of the family. Friends who pose the relevant question about the body should be treated as genuinely concerned as much as the family. The director should bear in mind that Code 1-6 requires that he should protect confidential information pertaining to the deceased or family of the deceased from disclosure.
As regards the second situation of the a newspaper calling for details of death, the funeral home director is in no way competent to answer the question and therefore may direct the news reporter to coroner who should be in a better position to react to the situation as the death has occurred following a violent incident in the society.
As regards the third situation of the media wanting to interview family members and friends and take pictures, again the wishes of the family must be respected and the Code 1-6 stated above must be observed. The director has no authority whatsoever to divulge any information to the media and allow pictures to be taken. At best he can appear before the court as an expert witness to answer any question regarding the funeral.
Work cited
NFDA. Code of Professional Conduct . 2008. Print
