Medico-Legal Issues in Cremation: Comparative Analysis of International Legislation

Cremation has seen a constant increase in popularity all around the world. Because of its extensively destructive nature, however, a series of medico-legal issues arise concerning identification, forensic autopsy, external examination, histological, toxicological and genetic exams to be performed no...

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Published inHealthcare (Basel) Vol. 10; no. 12; p. 2428
Main Authors Di Lorenzo, Pierpaolo, Di Donna, Gaetano, Busillo, Ludovica, Pieri, Maria, Capasso, Emanuele, Policino, Fabio, Casella, Claudia, Niola, Massimo
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Switzerland MDPI AG 01.12.2022
MDPI
Subjects
body
burn
consent
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Cremation
death
Forensic anthropology
Health aspects
Law
Laws, regulations and rules
Legislation
Methods
Pandemics
Italy
United Kingdom > UK
United States > US
Japan
burn
cremation
death
body
consent
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Summary:Cremation has seen a constant increase in popularity all around the world. Because of its extensively destructive nature, however, a series of medico-legal issues arise concerning identification, forensic autopsy, external examination, histological, toxicological and genetic exams to be performed not in the immediacy of death. The aim of this study is to compare the international legislation on cremation, seeking the response of various countries to their medico-legal issues. Several affinities but also some differences were found. Similarities include the need for a certificate by a medical examiner excluding any medico-legal issues and non-natural causes of death and the expression of consent to cremation given by the deceased when still alive otherwise by relatives. Significant differences were found in German law, which provides for a second medical examination prior to cremation and in Italian law providing for the medical examiner to collect biological samples from the body and store them for a minimum of ten years for any future purpose of justice. The Italian approach could give a plausible solution to the medico-legal issues raised by cremation with the imperative premise, however, we need to look deeply into its privacy and consent implications, cost-benefits rate, sample collection and storage protocol.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:2227-9032
2227-9032
DOI:10.3390/healthcare10122428