Ethics Unit 1

The visitation and funeral

In funeral service, what is considered the first step towards healing?

Cremation

What does not and should not be seen as an alternative to having a funeral service?

Notification of death, transfer of remains, embalming, arrangements conference, first view, visitation, funeral service, procession, committal service, aftercare

List the key stages in funeral arrangements.

Funeral practitioner

The person who engages in the vocation and profession of providing facilitites for the care of dead bodies, conducts funeral services, sees to burial/other disposition, and provides for the needs of the survivor during and after the funeral.

Caretakers of dead, caretakers of living, compassionate advisor, administrator, community leader

What are the 5 major roles of funeral practitioners?

Treat deceased with dignity, maintain confidentiality, prevent unnecessary exposure of deceased, prevent unauthorized admission to prep room

What are the responsibilities of an embalmer?

Funeral establishment

The place for the preparation of bodies together with a place for the funeral.

State room

The room where a vigil, vigil service, or wake service takes place.

Traditional service

What is a church service followed by a burial?

Direct cremation

Cremation without any other services.

Immediate burial

Burial without any other services.

Philosophy, religion, secular, values, code of ethics

What are the major sources for the development of ethics?

Golden Rule, personal ethics, situational ethics, business ethics

What does the code of ethics involve?

Ethical business practices, fair pricing, environmental regulations

Describe utilitarianism in funeral service.

Virtue ethics

The overall quality of one’s character.

Integrity, professionalism, compassion, empathy

What virtues are necessary in funeral service?

Concern for others, shame/guilt, cognitive factors

What makes morality?

Lawrence Kohlberg

Who believed individuals develop ethical standards of living by passing through stages of moral development?

Preconventional morality, conventional morality, postconventional morality

List the stages of moral development in order.

Obedience and punishment, individualism and exchange

List the two stages of preconventional morality.

Good boy attitude, law and order morality

List the two stages of conventional morality.

Social contract and individual rights, universal principles

List the two stages of postconventional morality.

Carol Gilligan. Judgement focused on one’s self, judgement focused on caring for others, needs of self are as important as needs of others

Who observed that men and women prioritize ethics differently? Explain how she interpreted the moral stages of development in order.

Ethics of justice

How do men prioritize ethics?

Ethics of care

How do women prioritize ethics?

Reverence for the Dead

Todd W. Van Beek states that the basic ethic for funeral service is what?

Ought-should questions

Specific questions about a specific topic matter.

Pre-moral

What is stage 0 of moral development meaning that rules are not understood, there is no sense of obligation, and the individual is only seeking pleasure/avoiding pain.

Personal ethics

The principles that guide an individual’s behavior and decision-making.

Culture, religion, community, family, career

What are personal ethics influenced by?

Professional ethics

The principles and standards that guide individuals within a specific profession.

Model codes of ethics, education and regulation, legal compliance, accountability and enforcement, ethical decision making models

What are professional ethics influenced by?

Formal academics, field training, continuing education

What are the aspects of education in funeral service?

External, concerned with acts and conduct, concerned with interest of society

Describe laws.

Internal, concerned with motives, concerned with interest of individual and society

Describe ethics.

Laws, government regulations, employee needs, consumer needs, social pressure, firm’s financial status

What are the factors in ethical business decision making?

Identify problem, define ethical issues of problem, break down problem into smaller identifiable elements, identify the options, consider consequences of each option, seek help from experts, select best solution, implement solution

Describe the process of ethical problem solving.

Is it legal? Is it balanced/fair to all involved? Will it make me feel good about myself?

Describe Blachard and Peale’s “Ethics Check”.

Actions are ethical if they serve the general public and not if they serve only the individual

Describe the basic quick test of ethical decision making.

How would it make my family feel? How would I feel if it happened to me or someone I love? How would I feel talking about it on TV? How would it benefit others?

Describe Klicker’s “How would it” model.