Mortuary 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 Mortuary Law and Ethics flashcards as text
Under the FTC Funeral Rule, how long must a funeral home retain its price lists?
Answer: One year
The FTC Funeral Rule requires funeral providers to retain copies of their price lists for at least one year after the date of their last distribution.
Which document authorizes a funeral director to transport human remains across state lines?
Answer: Burial transit permit
A burial transit permit (also called a disposition permit) is required by most states when transporting human remains across state lines.
A family requests that their deceased relative's ashes be divided among six family members. What ethical concern must the funeral director address first?
Answer: Confirming who holds legal authority to authorize disposition
The funeral director must first identify and confirm the person with legal next-of-kin authority before honoring any disposition request.
Which federal agency enforces the Funeral Rule that governs funeral home pricing disclosures?
Answer: Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces the Funeral Rule, which requires funeral providers to give consumers itemized price information.
A funeral director discovers that a deceased person had a legally valid pre-need contract, but the surviving spouse wants different services. What should the director do?
Answer: Honor the pre-need contract unless the authorized agent legally modifies it
A valid pre-need contract is a legal document, and changes require authorization from the legally designated agent or next of kin per applicable state law.
What is the primary ethical principle violated when a funeral director accepts a kickback from a cemetery for steering families to that location?
Answer: Justice
Accepting kickbacks violates the principle of justice by creating a conflict of interest that unfairly influences the director's recommendations at the family's expense.
Which of the following is NOT required to be disclosed on a funeral home's General Price List under the FTC Funeral Rule?
Answer: The owner's personal salary
The FTC Funeral Rule does not require disclosure of the funeral home owner's personal salary; it requires itemized pricing for services and merchandise.