Funeral directors must enquire whether patients underwent treatment with any radioactive substances shortly before their death. This may have been done to treat thyroid or prostate cancer, for example. The deceased can temporarily form a radiation risk to their environment after such treatment.
Image: © ANP
Safe postmortem care practices
The Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS) has drawn up a guidance document for funeral directors with precautionary measures to prevent additional radiation exposure. This guidance describes specific measures to be taken during postmortem care and the final disposition of deceased patients who received treatment with a radioactive substance.
Radioactive substances still present in the body
If a patient was being treated with a radioactive substance shortly before death, this substance can remain present in the body for some time afterward. Cremation may not be permitted in that case. The substance’s radioactivity decreases over time. How quickly that happens and the amount of time before cremation is permitted depend on the nature of the radioactive substance: what is the decay rate and how much does the body itself excrete?
The radioactivity will continue to decrease after death. If cremation is permitted, there may still be restrictions on scattering of ashes at sea or on land. Scattering ashes is not permitted within the indicated precautionary period.
Wait until radioactivity has decreased before scattering ashes
Our guidance gives time frames for cremation for the most common treatments with radioactive substances. It also indicates the applicable waiting periods to be able to scatter ashes at sea or on land. These periods are calculated based on the most recent time of treatment with a radioactive substance.
Interment always possible
In consultation with the bereaved, a funeral director may also opt for interment in a casket, as this is always permitted.
New version of Action Perspective for Funeral Directors from 2022
The Guidance for Funeral Directors (Dutch) is an expanded and updated version of the Action Perspective for Funeral Directors (Handelingsperspectief uitvaartbedrijven) (Dutch) published by ANVS in 2022.