A Consideration of "Informed Consent"

In class we have discussed the situation of how much a family should know about the cremation process prior to authorization. What exactly is sufficient "informed consent"? For this blog we will consider the concept of informed consent via this Point~Counterpoint article from the Funeral Ethics Association. As you "make your case" for this blog please be sure to read the Point~Counterpoint article and then answer the following questions:

• Is this situation, is an "informed consumer a good consumer" or might we consider a "tactful, ethical" manner that allows the authorizing agents to read or not to read the details of the cremation process?

• In essence, what should we disclose, how should we make these disclosures and most importantly why do you feel the way you do about this issue?

• Who do you most agree with from the article--Lapin or McDougald? Why?

• Considering the person you "disagreed" with in the previous question, is there anything that you would concede in regards to his position?

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO POST YOUR RESPONSES TO THESE QUESTIONS IN A WELL ORGANIZE REFLECTIVE BLOG THAT SHOULD BE NO LESS THAN 300 WORDS AND MUST BE POSTED TO THIS BLOG NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2010 BY 12NOON! THANK YOU

Why Cremation?

A WIRTHLIN REPORT STUDY OF CREMATION CUSTOMERS RECENTLY SUGGESTED THAT ABOUT 75% OF PEOPLE DO NOT CHOOSE CREMATION BECAUSE OF PRICE. GIVE YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON WHY YOU THINK THIS IS THE CASE. FOR THIS BLOG POSTING, TALK TO AT LEAST TEN PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR PREFERENCES. REPORT ON THE SPECIFICS OF YOUR INTERVIEWS. INCLUDE DATA REGARDING BURIAL VS. CREMATION NUMBERS AND SPECIFIC REASONS WHY PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING CREMATION AS FINAL DISPOSITION. SUPPORT YOUR POSTING WITH QUOTES OR NARRATIVE STORIES FROM YOUR INTERVIEWING. (NOTE: PLEASE TRY TO DIVERSIFY YOUR POPULATION WITH AN EMPHASIS ON "BABY BOOMERS". A SUGGESTED BREAK DOWN MIGHT BE AS FOLLOWS:

• TWO 20-35 YEAR OLD
• TWO 36-49 YEAR OLD
• THREE 50-65 YEAR OLD
• THREE OVER 65 YEAR

PLEASE REMEMBER THIS POSTING SHOULD BE ABOUT 150-250 WORDS (BUT LONGER IS ACCEPTABLE) THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST BE POSTED NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2010 BY 12NOON (EST).

Cremation Nation

As the chart from the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) illustrates, the US will change from a "Burial Nation" to a "Cremation Nation" by the year 2018, since the cremation rate for the country will top 50%. For this blog posting, in about 100-150 words, finish the following statement:

THE RISE IN CREMATION WILL AFFECT MY FUNERAL SERVICE CAREER...