ue in some places, free ‘training days’ for care
home staff by the funeral director, delivery of
flowers to the home after funerals have taken
place and the offer of voluntary work running
social events at the home are all familiar ways
in which funeral directors offer their friendly
support. Either way, the favoured funeral director collects the bodies of the residents who
die in the home and, almost invariably, ends
up carrying out the funeral - and invoicing the
family accordingly.
Not for nothing does the phrase
‘Habeas Corpus’ (Latin for ‘you have
the body’) exist!
Another myth is that a hearse has to
be used to transport a coffin. It has
become the accepted vehicle in which a body
is conveyed to the final place of rest, frequently
at a cost of around £400 for a half hour journey
or less - but it is not compulsory, nor in some
cases, desirable. Any suitable alternative vehicle can be used, including your own private
car or that of a neighbour or friend.
How about the belief that you have to
have a coffin? Totally untrue, the only legal
stipulation is that ‘It is an offence to expose
a dead body near a public highway as this
would outrage public decency’. Basically, a
body should be covered in public - but the
method of doing so is entirely up to the individual responsible for the disposal of the body.
The Natural Death Centre has always
championed the rights of the bereaved
to exercise autonomy when it comes to
making arrangements for funerals, and
we will continue to do so for as long as
the need is there. With the reluctance
of government to create legislation to
make obvious the legal rights of the
bereaved, and impose penalties on
those breaching those rights, unfortunately we expect to be manning the
NDC Helpline for a long time yet.
If you have any questions
concerning a death or a
funeral, call us for advice on
01962 712690, or e-mail
[email protected]
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