What to do if family refuses to accept responsibility for deceased's body....

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

I was not directly involved in this adventure but the whole thing got me to wondering if anyone else has experienced this and how they (or their facility) handled it.

This weekend we had a resident die. It was not an unexpected death but the event occurred a bit sooner than expected. Anyways, the family was notified of the event but had no wishes to come to our facility. Unfortunately, no mortuary had been designated. The family declined to name one because they did not wish to be responsible for the bill.

In the end, after 12 hours, the family committed to cremation society which is the most frugal option available.

Anyone have anything similar occur in their career or facility?

[kristou]

I would love too see what people have to say about this. Personally, I think that if that is all they could afford then they had no choice; but if they could afford something else and did this shame on them.

[ItsTheDude]

it happens, death ain't even free and it's overwhelming for many even if they know it's coming. at times you have to help the family out by informing them of options available.

there's nothing wrong with cremation.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I am employed at a nursing home that has a higher-than-average proportion of poorer and indigent residents who live there. If no one wants to claim the body of the decedent, then it is turned over to the county morgue where, quite possibly, they'll cremate it or prepare it for a potter's field burial.

[ky_grl82]

I completely understand about not having money to bury someone with a big service but they didn't even want to come to the facility? I would hope they would have a little more respect to their dead family member than that. Kinda of sad to me. They should have been more prepared for this by looking at cremation sooner but at least you know what the least expensive option is now in case this happens in the future, right?

[Emergency RN]

Aside from reluctant families, for unclaimed decedents, their municipality usually disposes of the remains. Years ago, they were interred in "Potter's Field" type of public cemeteries. However as costs for these facilities grew, many cities too, have taken to cremation, with the ashes stored in case there are future claims.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I would hope they would have a little more respect to their dead family member than that. Kinda of sad to me.

In some situations, it is hard to pay respect to the dead family member who sexually abused his daughters, disciplined her sons by burning them with lit cigarettes, or disowned their adult children for whatever reason (marrying someone of another race, being gay, etc.). I usually try to step into the shoes of the person who refuses to see the dead person.

Not everyone loved their children unconditionally, and that is truly sad.

[iNurseUK, RN]

Difficult situation for sure.

When I worked in ITU we had this young guy (late 20's maybe) admitted with a brain abscess. The person who had brought him to A&E in the first place had quickly vanished leaving us false name and address for the patient and NO contact details at all.

The poor patient was in no condition to communicate with us and he died within 48 hours of admission. We were stuck. We didn't know who he was, what religion he might be, who the next of kin were, nothing.

Of course we got the police involved but I always wondered, because we never heard, if this young man ever had a marked grave.

[Emile]

I completely understand your concern but you never know wat transpired between the deceased and their family. My sister and I have already decided to abandon our dad once he passes. For years we have tried to talk to him about burial/life insurance but he constantly refuses. He says he sees no point in this. We know for a fact he doesn't have any money saved for his burial. He says that we will figure it out once he is dead, without taking into consideration that we are both young and putting ourselves through college. We are both using loans to get through school so him expecting us to acquire more debt to bury him is beyond my understanding. I feel bad about it and I know what a shame it will be but when that day come I will take absolutely NO responsibily for his corpse.

Am I wrong though??

[imagenthings]

I cannot imagine doing something like that myself, because to me family is family. But at the same time I do not want to be to quick in judging the family's reaction. Maybe they did not have money or they did not want to be bothered with this family member. Sounds cruel, but a older lady friend said to me a good 15 years ago, "The way you treat people when you are alive, is the way they will treat you when you die." My two schillings.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

In the hospitals where I've worked, we had a rotational call schedule of funeral homes that would come and claim the bodies. .

Other option - county coroner.

[RN1980]

tell them you are going to sell the body to a medical school for a fee to which you and the other nurses in the unit will split for a drunkin night at the local pub...