Funeral Service Law and Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real BMS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Funeral Service Law and Ethics flashcards as text
A funeral director embalms a body without family consent and without a state law requiring it. This is an example of:
Answer: Battery and an ethical violation
Embalming without consent and without legal requirement constitutes battery and a serious ethical breach of the family's rights.
Which of the following is NOT required to be disclosed on the FTC General Price List?
Answer: The funeral director's personal salary
The GPL must list prices for goods and services offered but does not require disclosure of individual employee compensation.
What is the primary purpose of a Vital Statistics certificate in funeral service?
Answer: To document legal death for official record-keeping and disposition authorization
The death certificate is a legal document that certifies death and is required to authorize disposition and settle legal affairs.
An embalmer discovers evidence of possible homicide during preparation. What is the proper ethical and legal action?
Answer: Stop preparation and immediately notify law enforcement
Suspected homicide requires immediate cessation of preparation and notification of law enforcement to preserve evidence.
Which term describes the illegal practice of a funeral home steering families toward higher-cost options through deceptive sales techniques?
Answer: Predatory merchandising
Predatory merchandising involves using deceptive psychological or sales tactics to pressure families into purchasing more expensive products.
A funeral home charges a 'casket handling fee' for families who supply their own casket. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, this fee is:
Answer: Permitted if listed on the GPL and disclosed to the family
The FTC Funeral Rule allows a third-party casket handling fee only if it is listed on the General Price List and disclosed in advance.
Which of the following actions would constitute a conflict of interest for a funeral director?
Answer: Owning a cemetery and directing families exclusively to it without disclosure
Undisclosed financial interest in a related business that benefits from referrals creates an unethical conflict of interest.