CPC Code of Ethics Following is the Certified Preplanning Consultant (CPC), pledge. Service to Families ● I will treat the information shared with me during the preplanning interview with confidentiality and integrity. ● I will offer my services to all without regard to religion, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or disability. ● I will at all times maintain the standards and obligations of the funeral home that I represent. ● I will provide my clients with detailed price lists of services and merchandise before they select services or merchandise, and at the conclusion of the funeral arrangement conference will provide a written statement listing all of the services and merchandise that have been purchased. ● I will properly account for and remit any monies, documents, or personal property belonging to others that come into my possession. ● I will answer any questions the client may have pertaining to the preneed agreement, including any guarantees and representations, and will attempt to resolve any problems efficiently and fairly and with due consideration given to the views and concerns of the client. Obligations to the Public ● I will make no representation, written or oral, that may be false or misleading or that is likely to defraud or deceive the public. Chapter summary Many consumers do no realize that they are not legally required to use a funeral home to plan and conduct a funeral. However, because many people have little experience with the various details and legal requirements involved in the funeral planning process and are often emotionally distressed when they are required to do so, the services of a professional funeral director and their staff can be a comfort. Similarly, some customers find comfort in making arrangements for their own funeral before their death. Conclusion A history of less-than-honest practices within the funeral industry as well as the industry’s rapid growth led to the need for both government is an important component of ensuring a high level of service to grieving families, community members, and deceased persons. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is one of the primary governing bodies that regulate commercial practices within the funeral industry. It oversees the industry and is the enforcer of the Funeral Rule, which disallows false advertising and deceptive services, while striving to keep the market competitive. In addition to the Rule, the National Funeral Directors’ Association (NFDA) provides a code of conduct to which member funeral homes should adhere. This raises the bar of service and creates an honest, transparent environment within the industry. Funeral homes also have the option of joining the Order of the Golden Rule (OGR), which applies the golden rule of conduct to all business transactions. Further certification for funeral professionals wishing to engage in preneed arrangements for customers who want to specify their future funeral wishes is available through the NFDA’s Certified Preplanning Consultant exam. The modern funeral director is a self-regulated professional who provides goods and services to the general public with the highest level of dignity and respect while demonstrating these same standards to their colleagues and apprentices.
● I will abide by the provisions of the NFDA CPC Statement of Use regarding the appropriate and responsible use of the CPC designation. ● I will continue my professional education in this field. ● I further pledge to conduct myself at all times in a manner that deserves the public trust. Obligations to the Government ● I will continue to hold all necessary licenses to engage in providing preneed services and products in the state or states in which I practice. ● I will maintain my accountability to the client by complying with all applicable state and federal regulations and standards governing funeral preplanning, trust and insurance funding for funerals, and consumer protection. To maintain the highest ethical and moral standards, in accordance with the NFDA Code of Professional Conduct, NFDA and its funeral directors are committed to the long- term vision of ensuring that every consumer receives the best, most caring, respectful, ethical, and lawful professional service when they choose to plan a funeral in advance. In addition, although its public policy position is that all individuals who arrange funeral services on a preneed basis must be licensed funeral directors, via the CPC program, NFDA is committed to raising the professional standards of all individuals who are currently allowed by their state laws to plan funerals.
These preneed arrangements are subject to the same regulations as at-need funerals and should adhere to the CPC code of ethics. Regardless of whether a funeral professional is certified through the CPC examination, they should treat all preneed customers and their families with dignity and respect, and they should consider their wishes.
There is no premade plan or set of rules to deal with or established ways to react to ethical challenges; however, the aforementioned governing bodies, professional associations, and codes of conduct provide a solid framework within which we can deliver high-quality and respectful service. This course is intended to help all licensed funeral directors recognize and think through ethical issues when they arise, predetermine ethical dilemmas that may present themselves, and contribute to their overall knowledge of the ethical decision-making process.
WORKS CITED https://qr2.mobi/ethics-funeral
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Book Code: FTX1625
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