Hailey Tran
When a person dies in a hospital, their body is usually moved to the hospital morgue, a temporary holding facility where bodies are kept cold to delay decomposition. The body is typically placed in a body bag for transport, with clothing kept on unless heavily soiled. If the death requires the attention of the coroner, the body is taken to the Coronial Services Centre, where an autopsy may be performed. Hospitals are sensitive to the emotions and confusion experienced by the loved ones of the deceased and often have staff available to answer questions and provide support. Funeral directors can also provide assistance and handle various aspects of funeral planning, including legal paperwork, flowers, and notices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Body bag | The deceased is placed in a body bag for transport to the funeral home. The bag is sealed and there is a chain of custody form for all belongings on the body that travels with the body. |
| Clothing | The clothing is kept in place unless grossly soiled. |
| Refrigerated room | The body is kept in a refrigerated room to delay decomposition. |
| Autopsy | An autopsy is not usually performed at the hospital's morgue. However, if an autopsy is necessary, the hospital will release the body to the local medical examiner's office. |
| Funeral arrangements | The hospital will care for the deceased person until plans have been made with the chosen funeral director. The funeral director can take care of all aspects of the funeral, such as ordering flowers, putting notices in the newspaper, and handling the legal paperwork for either burial or cremation. |
| Coroner's involvement | If the death requires the attention of the coroner, the doctor will advise. The coroner requires that the person's body be left exactly as it was at the time of death. |
| Privacy | During a 50-year period of protection, the Privacy Rule generally protects a decedent's health information. However, there are special disclosure provisions, such as alerting law enforcement if there is a suspicion that death resulted from criminal conduct. |
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What You'll Learn
Hospitals place deceased persons in a morgue
When a person passes away in a hospital, their body is usually moved to the hospital's morgue. This is a temporary holding facility where bodies are stored at low temperatures to delay decomposition. The morgue is typically used for a day or less, and the family may view the body during this time if they did not get a chance to do so beforehand. The hospital will release the body to the local medical examiner's office if the medical examiner needs to determine the cause of death. Staff and family will need to correspond with the medical examiner's office to arrange transport, which should occur on the same day.
The body is usually placed in a body bag for transport to the funeral home, and the clothing is kept in place unless it is soiled. A bag of ice may be placed over the eyes if the deceased is donating corneas or eye tissue. The body is placed on a gurney in a refrigerated room. The body bag is sealed, and a chain-of-custody form is attached for all belongings that travel with the body. The seal is not broken until the funeral home collects the body.
In some cases, the body may be transported directly from the hospital to a hearse or other vehicle. This is done via a pre-identified route through the hospital that minimises patient and personnel traffic. The body is then transported to a pre-identified place of final disposition. If the deceased died from viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs), specific procedures must be followed. The body must not be washed, cleaned, embalmed, or have implanted medical devices removed. An autopsy should not be performed unless absolutely necessary. If cremation cannot be performed due to safety concerns, the body should be buried in a standard metal casket or comparable method.
The hospital staff will inform the next of kin if the deceased has passed away in the hospital. Hospital staff, social workers, and pastoral care workers can provide advice and support. It is important to communicate openly with hospital staff to understand the next steps, as each situation is unique. The hospital will care for the deceased until plans have been made with a funeral director. The doctor will advise if the death requires the attention of the coroner, who investigates if the death appears to have involved criminal conduct, or if there are no existing funeral plans in place.
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Hospitals inform next of kin
When a person passes away in a hospital, hospital staff will inform the next of kin. Hospital staff members are sensitive to the fact that the loved ones of the deceased are experiencing a lot of emotions, along with confusion and uncertainty about what happens next. There should be a caseworker or member of the hospital staff available to answer questions and provide information. Hospital staff, social workers, and pastoral care workers may also provide advice and support.
Hospital staff will communicate what will happen next, so the next of kin knows how to prepare. They will let the next of kin know if they are recommending that the medical examiner's office perform further analysis soon after death, so they are prepared for any potential delays. They will also provide information about how to contact the medical examiner's office and who to talk to for arranging transport. The hospital will release the body to the local medical examiner's office if the medical examiner needs to determine the cause of death. Staff and the family will need to correspond with the medical examiner's office to arrange transport, which should take place the same day.
The hospital will care for the deceased person until plans have been made with the chosen funeral director. The funeral director can take care of all aspects of the funeral, such as ordering flowers, putting notices in the newspaper, and handling the legal paperwork for either burial or cremation. The hospital will also coordinate with the funeral home or medical examiner's office to arrange for the transport of the deceased. The hospital will care for the deceased with respect and dignity, protecting the grieving family. The deceased will be covered with sheets until they are moved to the hospital morgue, where they will be kept at a cold temperature to delay decomposition. The body will typically remain in the morgue for a day or less, and the family may view the body during this time.
The hospital will inform the next of kin if the death requires the attention of the coroner. The coroner requires that the body be left exactly as it was at the time of death, and the body will be taken to the Coronial Services Centre. The next of kin can request that no autopsy be conducted by directing this request to the Coroner's Office.
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Hospitals advise on funeral arrangements
When a loved one passes away in a hospital, the hospital staff will inform the next of kin. Hospital staff, social workers, and pastoral care workers are available to answer any questions and provide support. They can also advise on funeral arrangements and direct you to additional bereavement resources.
Autopsy and Coroner's Report
If the death requires the attention of the coroner, the hospital doctor will inform you. The coroner may request an autopsy to determine the cause of death. You can refuse an autopsy by contacting the Coroner's Office directly. However, in some cases, an autopsy may be necessary, especially if the death resulted from criminal conduct. The hospital will release the body to the local medical examiner's office, and you will need to correspond with them to arrange transport.
Funeral Director
The hospital will care for the deceased until plans have been made with a funeral director. If there are no existing funeral plans, you will need to choose a funeral director. The funeral director can handle all aspects of the funeral, including flowers, notices in newspapers, and legal paperwork for burial or cremation.
Grief Support
Organizing a funeral is an important part of the grieving process, and it is unique to each individual. Hospital social workers and pastoral care staff can provide emotional support and help you contact family and friends. Bereavement advice services are also available to provide additional support during this difficult time.
Cultural and Religious Considerations
Cultural and religious beliefs about death and dying should be considered when making funeral arrangements. Hospitals and funeral homes are respectful of these beliefs and will accommodate specific requests, such as keeping the body clothed and allowing family members to view the body.
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Hospitals coordinate with funeral homes
When a person dies in a hospital, the hospital staff will inform the next of kin. The hospital will care for the deceased until plans have been made with a funeral director. Hospital staff, social workers, and pastoral care workers can provide advice and support. They can also help contact family and friends.
The next of kin is responsible for making decisions regarding the deceased's funeral. They can either choose a funeral home or opt for a home funeral. Funeral homes offer various services, including transfer, burial, cremation, and funeral arrangement assistance. Some funeral homes may send a funeral director to the hospital to meet with the family. The funeral director can handle all aspects of the funeral, such as ordering flowers, putting notices in the newspaper, and handling legal paperwork.
If the family chooses a home funeral, they should be aware of the legal requirements and have proof of their rights. In some places, the deceased can remain at home for several days before being transferred to a cemetery or crematory. The family may need to obtain a disposition permit and use dry ice to preserve the body.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, funeral homes, crematories, and hospitals worked together to ensure the dignified treatment of the deceased. Funeral homes implemented attendance limits, livestreaming, and video conferencing to accommodate restrictions and allow people to grieve and pay their respects safely.
Overall, hospitals coordinate with funeral homes by caring for the deceased until plans are finalized and by providing support and resources to the next of kin during this difficult time.
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Hospitals handle deceased persons with care and respect
When a person passes away, their body is often moved to the hospital's morgue, a temporary holding facility where bodies are kept at a cold temperature to delay decomposition. The body is usually placed in a body bag for transport to the funeral home, but the clothing is kept in place unless grossly soiled. The body is later released, using the same process as being checked in, to the appropriate personnel, such as a funeral director or organ/tissue donation staff.
The hospital will care for the deceased person until plans have been made with the chosen funeral director. The doctor will advise if the death requires the attention of the coroner. The coroner requires that the person's body be left exactly as it was at the time of death. The Coroner's Office arranges for the deceased to be taken to the Coronial Services Centre. If an autopsy is required, the hospital will release the body to the local medical examiner's office, and staff and the family will need to correspond with the office to arrange transport.
In the case of patients with viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs), hospitals must follow specific procedures for handling human remains. The body should not be washed, cleaned, embalmed, or undressed, and no implanted medical devices should be removed. The body should be cremated, and if not possible, buried in a standard metal casket.
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Frequently asked questions
Hospital staff will care for the deceased until plans have been made with a funeral director. The body will be moved to the hospital morgue, a temporary facility where bodies are kept at a cold temperature to delay decomposition.
The body is kept in a refrigerated room on a gurney. A bag of ice is placed over the eyes if they are donating corneas or eye tissue.
The body is typically kept in the morgue for a day or less. If the family did not get a chance to view the body, they may be able to do so at this time. If the medical examiner needs to determine a cause of death, the hospital will release the body to the local medical examiner's office.
The body is transported to a hearse or another vehicle using a pre-identified route. The body is typically placed in a body bag for transport to the funeral home, but the clothing is kept in place unless it is grossly soiled.
