Hi there, Let me answer your questions one by one. “For donation, embalming can’t be done?” REPLY: Yes, if you’re donating live organs for transplant, you can’t have them punctured and suffused with formaldehyde. You can certainly have embalming done after the organs are removed for transplant. If you’re donating the whole body for anatomical study, the medical school will embalm the body. “In NJ, I think time of death till cremation has a time limit. What is that time limit?” REPLY: You must wait 24 hours after the time of death before you cremate. “If death is at home, how is the organ donated? Call a hospital?” REPLY: You cannot donate live organs in such a situation. The body has to be on life-support at a hospital so the organs stay alive in order for them to be useful for live transplant. “Who declares person dead at home–any doctor? Nurse? Where is cause of death listed?” REPLY: If the person is under the care of hospice, for example, the hospice nurse or attending doctor can do so. In most cases, the person’s doctor, or the last doctor to monitor their care, will sign the death certificate. If the death is unexpected (like a young person, etc.), the medical examiner of the county will have the authority to examine the body and sign the death certificate. That is where the cause of death is listed. “We want the ashes present for our religious service & will need to schedule.” REPLY: You’re unclear on exactly what you’re asking. Are you expecting some sort of delay? The answer to when you get the ashes back is “when the cremation is performed.” This is going to depend on when you schedule it, and what the funeral tells you they can do in terms of turnaround. Josh Slocum Funeral Consumers Alliance
