Friday, January 20, 2012

Why does a hospital require a birth certificate or baptism papers to release a body after death?

This is in Ontario, Canada so it might be a specific law here. I'm not sure and I can't seem to find any information about it through the Ontario government or the Canadian government.



The instance is that an uncle died recently at a nursing home, they sent the body to the hospital after identifying him, and now his son who's trying to get the body released to a funeral home has to produce either his birth certificate or baptism papers before the hospital will allow the body to be moved to the funeral home. We're trying to help his son find his birth certificate.



Is this something to do with the law about releasing bodies? Or is his son trying to gain access to his father's money, property, etc. through producing this form? Are we being mislead about why his son needs this form (we only have the son's side of the story to go on as we are not next of kin).Why does a hospital require a birth certificate or baptism papers to release a body after death?
Vital statistic requires that the hospital or morgue the deceased is fully identified as part of issuing a death certificate. Also consider ID Fraud, dead people don't speak, therefore the person social security number is valuable to criminal ,and terrorist organization.
Thanks, Also check with funeral home to see if in fact I am correct, they would know for sure.

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Why does a hospital require a birth certificate or baptism papers to release a body after death?
For protection.. there are families where there are huge disputes and feuds, even as to who decides about the remains, services and so forth.

Yes, sad world, isn't it? But not necessarily meaning something wrong about your nephew, just standard procedure.Why does a hospital require a birth certificate or baptism papers to release a body after death?
It is for verification, you have to prove that the deceased is in fact your loved one, there are some cases when people try to identify a body as their spouse or child with no validity. It is disturbing, but it happens

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