Property custody The funeral director is responsible for safe possession of valuables, including those on the person of the deceased at the time of death and those provided to the funeral home to be buried with the individual, if desired. The funeral director typically becomes custodian of all personal effects belonging to the deceased that were in his/her possession. Items with monetary value or of sentimental concern to the family are placed in a temporary trusteeship with the funeral director, Confidentiality In serving the family, the funeral director is typically privy to information of a confidential nature. Under no circumstances should the funeral director discuss the cause or nature of the death with anyone outside the funeral home. All information and matters relating to the deceased are strictly confidential and should not be communicated to a third party unless he/she is authorized to do so by the family. Private details discussed during the arrangement conference are also sensitive and confidential in nature. Never repeat any details about the deceased or deceased’s family with staff members or family members unless it is directly pertinent to the funeral Accountability Professional organizations protect public safety by certifying the competence of their members through licensing and continuing education requirements. Accreditation and professional affiliations maintain quality control and show your accountability to families, colleagues, and the profession as a whole. They confirm that you abide by prevailing health and safety standards, conduct yourself in accordance with relevant legislation and/or professional regulations, and possess the specialized knowledge and skills of your field. Once you’re successfully licensed, you are deemed “competent” in your business area despite the fact that your specific skills, training, and knowledge base may be somewhat different from that of other funeral directors or embalmers in the country. Licensing agencies and professional societies can maintain basic Scope of practice Scope of practice refers to your area of competence, usually obtained through formal study, training, and/or professional experience, and for which you’ve received certification or other proof of qualification, Your scope of practice is circumscribed, in part, by local licensing restrictions, which are sometimes very general. Misrepresenting your educational achievements, credentials, or abilities is a serious breach of responsibility that endangers the public and reflects poorly on the profession as a whole. If a subject is outside your area of expertise, don’t hesitate to say so, and direct the individual to appropriate informational resources or professional services. Choosing to provide services for which you are not appropriately trained or competent is a dangerous personal decision that
who should transfer these items at the earliest point possible, according to the family’s wishes. It is useful for the funeral director to review with the family that he /she is in possession of these items and confirm what should happen to the items after the funeral service and to whom, if at all, they should be returned. The funeral director is ethically obligated to ensure that any valuables that remain with the deceased at the time of burial or cremation are indeed with the body at burial or cremation. service or preparations. Details regarding the cause of death, funeral arrangements and prices for services and products, who is paying and how much—all are sensitive issues that should be treated with discretion. When in doubt, do not disclose information. Keep all original records in your possession. Share information only in cases where disclosure is required and appropriate. Impress upon all staff members the importance of confidentiality and retaining original file copies. Treat family members with respect and dignity. Handle personal information with sensitivity and keep the content of records private. standards of quality and professional expertise in the field and ensure that licensed individuals are keeping pace with recent developments through continuing education requirements. Crediting coursework is offered in a diverse range of formats (traditional classroom attendance, correspondence courses or distance education, weekend workshops, professional seminars and conferences) that vary widely in scope, practical value, length of study, and fee. Opportunities for advanced study in the field outside of continuing education are also abundant, offering the practitioner a diverse range of possibilities in certification, titles, and credentials, all associated with varying degrees of validity. Checks and balances on this system are minimal; those that exist are fueled in great measure by the personal accountability, honesty, and integrity of individual practitioners. undermines the profession and may carry weighty legal implications. Your personal level of discretion and ethical standards will largely determine the manner in which you advertise your services, describe your education and professional experience, and list credentials. You have an additional obligation to your clients and the profession to keep pace with new developments in the field and maintain skills at a professional level. This obligation is partly fulfilled through formal continuing education requirements but can be supplemented by attention to industry journals and attendance at seminars, workshops, and conferences.
PART II – ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES
The following is a sampling of the laws as they relate to funeral professionals. The complete set of statutes can be found at https://www.azleg.gov/ARStitle/. Chapter 12, Article 1: Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers
From 32-1301. Definitions—unprofessional conduct 59. “Unprofessional conduct” includes the following acts, whether occurring in this state or elsewhere: (a) Committing a class 1 or 2 felony. (b) Committing a felony or misdemeanor if the offense has a reasonable relationship to funeral directing or embalming. Conviction by any court of competent jurisdiction or a plea of no contest is conclusive evidence of the commission.
(c) Providing false, misleading or deceptive information on an application for licensure or registration pursuant to this chapter or on an examination required for licensure or registration. (d) Bribing or offering to bribe, directly or indirectly, a member of the board to influence the member’s actions in performing the member’s duties. (e) Willfully interfering with an embalmer, funeral director or cremationist who has lawful custody of a dead human
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