Funeral Home Ann Bib Funeral

Funeral Home Ann Bib

Funeral Home Annotated Bibliography

Blumenthal, R. (1997). A Consumer Guide to the Prices, Practices, and Regulations of the Funeral Industry. State of Connecticut Attorney General's Office.

The article by the Attorney General's office provides a functional overview of the death services field, detailing both the reason for the extensive regulation required over funeral homes and a number of the most important regulations. Both the rationale and regulations which it provide highlight the pricing advantage that funeral homes typically have over consumers. This points to the need for regulations affiliated with pricing. For instance, this source denotes that "when consumers call funeral homes to inquire about the goods and services offered, the staff must disclose that prices are available over the telephone and then provide them as requested." (Blumenthal, 1) the articles focus is generally on such matters as they relate to fair and honest pricing representation.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC). (2008). Facts for Consumers. www.ftc.gov.

The Federal Trade Commission is a valuable source for understanding the regulations relating to funeral home operation because it constructs and enforces most of them. Therefore, the review of rights for consumers which it provides is a trustworthy point of consultation. It indicates its position of consumer advocacy at the outset, telling that "funerals rank among the most expensive purchases many consumers will ever make. A traditional funeral, including a casket and vault, costs about $6,000, although "extras" like flowers, obituary notices, acknowledgment cards or limousines can add thousands of dollars to the bottom line. Many funerals run well over $10,000." (FTC, 1) it is for this reason that the FTC reports to take such an active interest in regulatory conditions and concerns, ensuring that no further exploitation intercedes with that cost.

Registry of Regulations (RoR). (2009). Embalmers and Funeral Directors Regulations

made under Section 33 of the Embalmers and Funeral Directors Act R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 144. Province of Nova Scotia.

The Canadian Registry of Regulations is a useful source for demonstrating that the issues with which American trade commissions must respond are similar to those faced in Canada. Tight regulatory control can be observed in provinces such as Nova Scotia such as this source dictates with respect to embalming norms and practices. The document tells that "the Registrar shall, on behalf of the Board of Registration of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, administer the issuing of licenses for embalmers, apprentice embalmers and funeral directors." (RoR, 1) This means that embalming is a profession which is tightly regulated by state oversight.

Harrington, D.E. (2007). Markets: Preserving Funeral Markets with Ready-to-Embalm Laws. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 21(4), 201-216.

Similar regulations are observable in the United States as the Harrington source indicates. Though it is a state by state process, evidence suggests that states are increasingly following suit with one another to the end of fully streamlining embalming procedures and requirements. As present, "thirty-nine states currently have ready-to-embalm laws, which typically require that all firms selling any type of funeral service (even those specializing in cremations) have embalming preparation rooms and all funeral directors be trained as embalmers." (Harrington, 201) the journal article provides detail on how the embalming field is given oversight with respect to ethical and professional conduct as much as are price issues attended by the FTC.