When a loved one dies in a hospital, the following questions arise: what happens to a corpse in the hospital? General rules for dealing with corpses in hospitals are set out in statutes, while detailed procedures describing individual activities are developed by each hospital on its own. Where is the body of the deceased in the hospital? Who can pick up the body from the hospital?

What happens to a corpse in a hospitalis strictly regulated by law. Death in hospital andbody of the deceased in hospitalhospital staff should treat with due respect.

What happens to a corpse in a hospital: death declaration

When the doctor determines the death of the patient in the hospital, the nurse fills out a card for referral to the cold store and places an identification card on the hand or foot of the deceased. The body of the deceased may not be transported earlier than two hours after the date of death, which is entered on the record. During this time, the corpse should be stored in a room specially designated for this purpose, and in its absence - in another place, with the dignity due to the deceased.

Transport of the body to the dissecting room

The body together with the referral card and ID are transported to the cold store in the dissecting room. The detailed content of the card for referral of the body to the cold store and the ID card are specified in the regulations. When the patient's identity is unknown, the documents and the ID are marked with "NN" stating the reason and circumstances that make it impossible to establish the identity. The corpse should be transferred by a dedicated means of transport - a tightly closed (capsule), allowing for its washing and disinfection, through designated communication routes within the hospital premises. Transportation of the corpse between the floors should be carried out by a lift adapted for this purpose.

Identification of the body

The corpse of a deceased person in a hospital may be handed over to an authorized person or institution after they identify the deceased in a room designated for this purpose. The identification takes place in the presence of an authorized hospital employee and must be documented in the identification certificate.

Releasing the body from the hospital

Beforethe release of a delay should be prepared by washing and covering it with the dignity owed to the deceased. This operation does not include the clothes of the deceased. This should be done by the relatives of the deceased or the funeral service provider.

Who can pick up the body from the hospital?

The issue of who can collect the body is regulated by the act on cemeteries and the burial of the deceased. The right to bury a deceased person is primarily granted to:

  • other spouse (ka);
  • descendants;
  • relatives;
  • relatives up to the fourth degree;
  • in a straight line to the first degree.

The right to bury soldiers who died in active military service is vested in the competent military authorities, pursuant to military regulations. The right to bury the corpses of people of merit to the state and society is vested in state authorities, institutions and social organizations.

How long can a corpse be kept in the hospital?

Pursuant to the act on medical activity, a patient's body may be stored in a cold store for more than 72 hours, if:

  • cannot be picked up earlier by persons or institutions authorized to bury the patient's body,
  • an investigation or investigation was initiated in connection with the death, and the prosecutor did not allow the body to be buried,
  • It is supported by other important reasons than those mentioned in items 1 and 2, with the consent or at the request of the person or institution authorized to bury the patient's body.

Category:

Patient's kit