Funeral considerations
While funerals will always be a difficult time it is worth considering that when a person with hepatitis C dies it is possible that the hospital (if involved) and funeral directors may deal differently with the deceased remains.
Hepatitis C is classified as an infectious disease and this may have implications on what happens to the body after death.
If a person dies in hospital or at home and the doctors know that they have hepatitis C, the hospital or GP are required by law, under the Health and Safety at Work Act, to inform the undertakers who may then follow specific procedures.
In many cases the fact that a person has hepatitis C may not necessarily even come to light when they pass away. People are not tested for hepatitis C as a matter of course when they die, but it may come to light if there is an autopsy. The autopsy might reveal liver damage, in which case additional tests may be run to establish the cause, or it could come to light if medical records need to be examined in the course of determining the cause of death.
Special arrangements by undertakers in dealing with infectious diseases
Irrespective of the state of health whilst alive, or the actual cause of death, if the hospital, mortuary and/or undertaker staff know that a person has hepatitis C, the body may be treated with extreme caution for health and safety reasons (even if the person has had successful treatment).
This is the case for all infectious diseases.
Hospitals are advised by the Health Protection Agency to ensure that, when someone has died with an infectious disease, the body is placed in a bag and labelled in one of the following ways: either with yellow and black Biohazard tape and/or with tags stating Infectious Disease or Danger of Infection.
Issues for your family to be aware of
It is possible that as a result an undertaker may not agree to embalm or prepare a body that is known to have hepatitis C (*see below). Certainly they are advised not to by the Health Protection Agency. Aside from preserving or enhancing the look of the body, this may also extend to dressing the body in particular clothes, applying make-up, combing hair etc.
They will allow relatives/friends to view the body but without embalming or sometimes even basic hygienic preparation, the body is likely to deteriorate rapidly. This means that anyone wishing to view, must try to do so quickly.
It is important to be aware that the body will remain in the sealed labelled bag even when it is placed into a coffin and therefore relatives/friends may well have to take responsibility to open the bag themselves if they want to view it and/or if they want to prepare the body themselves (washing, clothing, combing hair, putting on makeup etc).
While a professional, experienced undertaker will endeavour to keep distress to a minimum, it is important to be aware that the undertaker is likely to only know that the body has an infectious disease. This means that they may handle all bodies classified in this way with extreme caution over and above what is strictly necessary.
Lastly, when people die of infectious diseases such as hepatitis C, their coffins are hermetically sealed (this means the coffin is lined with zinc and the lid then soldered shut) to prevent any future possibility of infection to others no matter how remote the possibility.
The National Institute of Embalmers (NIE) and the British Institute of Funeral Directors (BIFD) recommend these guidelines to their members, but some undertakers might still be willing to prepare a body that is known to have an infectious disease (*see below). The NIE and BIFD said they would always endeavour to track down an undertaker to do this on a familys behalf, but it may mean extra cost if that undertaker is not local and they cant guarantee that they would always be able to find someone.
Although it is difficult to think about what may happen to our bodies when we die, you may feel it is important to pre-warn family and friends of what may happen when you do.
Or, if you are particularly concerned about what will happen to your body, it may be worth considering contacting your local undertaker now to see how they would handle a body with an infectious disease and whether they will be sensitive and sympathetic to the needs of your family in the event of your death.
What we have described will not necessarily happen to all who die with hepatitis C but if an undertaker was following the guidelines they are given to the absolute dot, then we feel it is better for those with hepatitis C and their friends and families to be forewarned and forearmed.
*If you are responsible for arranging the funeral of someone who has been identified as having hepatitis C, we do have a contact number for a funeral director based in London who is sympathetic and willing to offer an embalming service. He may also be able to provide details of other undertakers around the country who are willing to provide this service. Please contact the Helpline on 0845 223 4424 and we will pass on the number to you.
Another company which is happy to speak to people about funeral issues relating to hepatitis C is:
Green Funeral Company
Trekenner Mill
Trekenner
Launston
Cornwall
PL15 0PN
Contact Claire Callender on 01579 370039
