Death without Debt, an advocacy group, want Funeral Directors removed as the middlemen in cremations because it is costing people money.
Fergus Wheeler, the spokesman for Death without Debt explained that two doctors were required to sign off on a death for cremation – the first observes the body and makes notes about the cause of death, and a second doctor is required to sign-off on that paperwork.
Currently, the system is set up so that people need a funeral director to facilitate this second sign-off, with funeral directors charging the family for doing so – but legally, it does not have to be done this way.
Check out this RNZ article to read more.
Visit Death without Debt’s website to learn more about the Cost of Dying and the workshops they run to help empower individuals to make informed decisions about funeral planning and expenses.
