Follow the Ten Commandments for Cremation Documents
May 25th, 2009
The last issue of The Cremationist contained my column with the updated Ten Commandments for Cremation Practices. When I was the general counsel of CANA, I also developed the Ten Commandments for Cremation Documents. It seems appropriate to update the list. Hopefully, members will review their current operations and make sure they are engaging the following practices. All industry professionals should be able to understand the meaning of these Ten Commandments. If every crematory followed these practices they should substantially reduce their exposure to liability.
- Thou shall have available the state law applicable to cremation to reference.
- Thou shall establish a fixed procedure for documenting a cremation service.
- Thou shall always follow the established procedures.
- Thou shall have an up-to-date cremation authorization form that complies with state laws and current industry practices.
- Thou shall have up-to-date cremation explanation forms.
- Thou shall require all funeral directors to use the crematory form and have the cremation properly documented.
- Thou shall confirm or have a procedure for confirming the identification of the person executing the cremation authorization.
- Thou shall confirm or have a procedure for confirming the identification of the deceased.
- Thou shall train all employees and establish a system for monitoring compliance.
- Thou shall quickly resolve all complaints and obtain appropriate releases from liability if possible.