Chapter 3: Rights and responsibilities
ACTIVITY: DEALING WITH THE DEAD
What would you do about the dead bodies in the mortuary?
I would arrange for the bodies to be cremated as soon as possible.
I would seek help from the authorities to arrange the burial of the bodies.
Incorrect answer!
This would actually create issues for identification. Families have a right to know the fate of their relatives, which is why dead bodies must be managed in a way that allows for identification in the future. For example, temporary burial and storing the bodies in body bags would be more appropriate options in this case, as they would allow for future recovery of the bodies and identification. Moreover, the authorities are the ones responsible for proper disposal of dead bodies. The hospital administrator should therefore ensure that the competent authorities are informed and reminded of their obligations.
Correct answer!
As it is the authorities that are responsible for proper disposal of dead bodies, the hospital administrator should ensure that they are informed and reminded of their obligations. In addition, notwithstanding the urgent nature of the situation, the hospital administrator should adopt dead body management measures that ensure future identification, in order to respect families’ right to know the fate of their relatives. In this case, temporary burial and storing the bodies in body bags would be appropriate options, as they would allow for future recovery of the bodies and identification.