Advertising/marketing As a representative of your profession, any negative perceptions of your marketing materials or advertisements tend to reflect poorly on your colleagues and the profession as a whole. All advertising should be factual and treat the subject of funerals with dignity. All advertisements should be truthful and professional. Documentation and record keeping All records should give factual and complete account of relevant transactions. It is unethical to withhold or insert any invoice or statement of false record, or representation of any transaction, invoice, record, or documentation for the purpose of misleading or deceiving a colleague, family member, organization, or government agency. It is unethical and unprofessional to misrepresent any aspect of the funeral service. Proper documentation and record keeping is a critical, if mundane, dimension of a successful business. Keep notes legible and accurate. If it is ever necessary to refer to files some time in the future (in legal proceedings, for Contractual obligations The funeral director is required to fulfill all agreements and contracts, both verbal and written, in which he/she has contracted. There is no substitute for honesty and integrity in business matters. Be able to admit mistakes should they 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, who should transfer these items at the earliest point possible, according to the family’s wishes. 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 service or preparations. Details 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.
Promotional materials should: ● Include your license number, place of business, and phone number. ● Refrain from using fear or guilt as motivational tactics. ● Avoid unrealistic, misleading, or sensational claims. ● Do not use any wording or image that might be construed as offensive in nature. ● Adhere to truth-in-advertising standards. example), the context and details of your notes should be clear. Adhere to the following guidelines for preparing and maintaining records: ● Notes should be legible, as well as accurate. Pay attention to your handwriting and use clearly written and recognized abbreviations. Remember that you and other people may need to refer to these notes years in the future. Make sure they are easy to read and understand. ● File records promptly and accurately. Establish a strict filing system and adhere to it, and be sure other staff members know the system and importance of using it.
occur, as “covering up” means adding dishonesty on top of dishonesty. Instead, be honest and do what you can to make amends. Trust is crucial to a harmonious relationship between the family and the funeral director.
It is useful for the funeral director to review with the family that he /she is in possession of these items, 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.
regarding the cause of death, funeral arrangements and prices for services and products, who is paying and how much, are all 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 the importance of confidentiality and retaining original file copies upon all staff members. Treat family members with respect and dignity. Handle personal information with sensitivity, and keep the content of records a private matter. 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 than that of other funeral directors or embalmers in the country. Licensing agencies and professional societies are able to maintain basic standards of quality and professional expertise in the field, and ensure that licensed individuals are keeping pace with recent developments through continuing education requirements.
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Book Code: FOK0425
EliteLearning.com/Funeral
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