● Members shall not engage in any unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the families they serve in the course of providing professional services. Family members of the deceased should be provided counsel and treated in a caring and ethical manner throughout the duration of the funeral process and into the future, postservices. The funeral director and staff members of the funeral home establishment work with families in a critical stage of their life and partake in intimate and confidential details of their personal lives. Under no circumstances should the funeral director or any member of the staff discuss the cause or nature of the death, or details that have not been made public, such as the obituary, with anyone outside of the funeral home or relevant third parties such as employees at the cemetery, crematory, church or clergy, insurance companies responsible for payment, or other legal entity such as Social Security or local and state registrars. Care of the Decedent Ethical principle : Members have an ethical obligation to care for each deceased person with the highest respect and dignity, and to transport, prepare, and shelter the remains in a professional, caring, and conscientious manner. ● All deceased persons shall be treated with proper care and dignity during transfer from the place of death and subsequent transportation of the remains. ● Only authorized personnel of the funeral home or those persons authorized by the family shall be in attendance during the preparation of the remains. ● Members shall allow only embalmers, apprentices, and interns who are licensed to the extent required by state law to embalm human remains. ● All deceased persons in the preparation room shall be treated with proper care and dignity and shall be properly covered at all times. ● Members shall not transport, hold, or carry out the disposition of human remains without all permits and authorizations required by law. ● Members shall not violate any statute, ordinance, or regulation affecting the handling, custody, care, or transportation of human remains. ● Members shall not knowingly dispose of parts of human remains that are received with the body by the funeral home in a manner different from that used for the final disposition of the body unless the person authorizing the method of final disposition gives permission that the body part may be disposed of in a manner different from the disposition of the body. With respect to the care of the deceased, strong ethical standards must remain in place at all times. No unlicensed or prohibited persons, including staff, should be in contact with the deceased individual throughout the embalming and preparation procedures. The body shall be in the care of the funeral director and their permitted members of the staff. The body shall remain covered at all times and treated with dignity and respect. Obligations to the Public Ethical principle : Members have an ethical obligation to the public to offer their services and to operate their businesses in accordance with the highest principles of honesty, fair dealing, and professionalism. ● Members shall not engage in any unprofessional conduct that is likely to defraud or deceive the public. ● Members shall not engage in false or misleading advertising.
● Members shall not personally or through an agent or employee solicit deceased human remains, whether the solicitation occurs after death or while death is imminent—provided, however, that general advertising directed to the public at large would not constitute a violation of this section. ● Members shall not pay or offer to pay a commission or anything of value to third parties such as medical personnel, nursing home and hospice organizations or employees, clergy, government officials, or others to secure deceased human remains for funeral or disposition services. ● Members shall not use alcohol or drugs to the extent that such use adversely impacts the members ability to carry out their obligation as funeral professionals. ● Members shall not be convicted of any felony or any crime involving immoral conduct. ● Members shall not offer to sell or arrange the sale of funeral goods or services on a preneed basis in violation of any applicable federal or state laws or regulations. It is the duty of every funeral director and funeral professional to know and strictly adhere to the requirements of the Code of Professional Conduct for the protection of the families served, the deceased that are cared for, the profession that funeral directors dedicate themselves to, and the communities in which they live and serve. Obligations to the Government Ethical principle : Members have an ethical obligation to maintain strict compliance with the letter and spirit of all governmental laws and regulations that impact the funeral consumer, the funeral profession, and public health. ● Members engaging in the profession of funeral directing or embalming shall hold all necessary licenses to engage in such businesses. ● Members shall require any person in their employ or under their control who serves as a funeral director or embalmer, or as an apprentice or intern, to have all appropriate licenses. ● Members shall not knowingly make a false statement on a death certificate. ● Members shall not knowingly make or file false records or reports in the practice of funeral service. ● Members shall comply with all federal, state, or local laws, rules or regulations governing or impacting the practice of funeral service. ● Members shall comply with all federal, state, or local laws, rules or regulations that were enacted to protect consumers. ● Members shall comply with all federal, state, or local laws, rules or regulations that were enacted to protect the environment. Obligations to the National Funeral Directors Association Ethical principle : Members have an ethical obligation to promote, participate in, and support the National Funeral Directors Association in its mission to help all members enhance the quality of funeral service to families. ● Members shall comply with the Constitution and Bylaws of the National Funeral Directors Association. ● Members shall conduct themselves in a proper and appropriate manner while attending or participating in NFDA-sponsored events and in all communications with NFDA staff. ● Members shall cooperate in a timely, professional, and respectful manner in all phases of an investigation, hearing, and resolution of a complaint brought before the Professional Conduct Committee.
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