Comments

Bob Chrisman wrote on Mar 19, 2010 10:13 PM:

" Stephanie thats a great question in that state law requires the DC to be signed before ANYTHING can be done with the remains..Was it a place here in Kern Valley ?..The one we used was very polite but aggatated with the doctor, and I have the fax copies to show that they did in fact send multiple messages to him..I know its a pain, and maybe I have over-reacted a little, but I really can see no excuse for any delay.. "




Bob Chrisman wrote on Mar 18, 2010 9:06 PM:

" First of all I have no problem with the doctor jogging. Good for him.My complaint is that it took in excess of a week for him to sign the DC.The State advised me that no more than 24 hrs for a natural caused death. This guy is the one who pronounced her, he was her doctor and if nothing else he could have had a nurse fill in the blanks and all he had to do was sign it..Multiple faxes and phone calls ? I'm sorry but I can see no real excuse for taking so long.. "




Stefanie wrote on Mar 18, 2010 9:04 PM:

" My mom died Feb. 25th, and the doctor has STILL not signed it. They never seem to be there, and the funeral home doesn't follow up. But guess what. In all my ocomplaining and calling, the reallly rude woman at the funeral home told me that "She was ashamed that I had not even asked about my mother's remains>" I then asked her. She tells me they are in....I am kind of wondering now, if they don't have the death certificate yet, how the heck did they cremate her body??? "




Please Relax wrote on Mar 15, 2010 10:55 PM:

" My family was in the funeral business for a century back east. While we didn't have this sort of thing occur on our watch, I suppose an uncaring MD can cause heartache through his/her sloth.

Please take a breath and relax. Your loved one is gone to a better place and the body is just a shell. Yes I agree it's sad, but it's not worth polluting all the good thoughts you have of your loved one. This is NOT the memory that you want. "




Jaymie Sullins wrote on Mar 14, 2010 8:57 PM:

" They killed my great grandmother as well. I know how you are feeling about this. They will get what they deserve. I hope they rott. "




DEBRA wrote on Mar 13, 2010 6:00 AM:

" Grieving is hard. Given the emotions are bound to take hold on something else, anger. What stood out when I read this: 'we were told that repeated attempts by the mortuary to have the doctor sign the death certificate were ignored.'I think the Mortuary could have handled this better. This is their business. Do they always have a signed certificate in less than 7 days? Sounds like CYA to me. Just my Opinion. "




Mac wrote on Mar 12, 2010 3:08 PM:

" Where is it obvious? I'm speaking from personal experience in various family members having been cremated, in larger cities than KV, btw. It took around a week. Other people I know also experienced that time frame. What people expect to happen and what actually happens don't always coincide.

Maybe you are thinking of situations where there is going to be a viewing and/or funeral rather than a cremation? I can see where time would be more of an issue there. "




Local One wrote on Mar 12, 2010 1:11 PM:

" Mac- It's obvious you work for or have some personal interest vested in KVHD. The Dr. for the residents in Skilled nursing is notorious for being 'scatter-brained' and unavailable. In a death by natural causes, there is no reason a death certificate could not be signed within 24hrs. It doesn't matter if it's common to have a creamation a week later. What's important is that the Family expectations(based off of information given to them) were not upheld because a representative of KVHD didn't do thier job. Dr. 'jogging'at the time, what was he doing 4 a wk? "




Mac wrote on Mar 12, 2010 8:29 AM:

" My family cremates as a rule, and about a week, give or take, has been my experience. Also, the people I know have had about the same experience. In a very big city, I imagine room might be a factor in quick cremations but within hours sounds kind of crass. My father was cremated at Hillside, contracted out by Neptune since they didn't have facilities. My coworker's mom (SNF resident on hospice) was likewise taken care of by a Bakersfield facility, obviously death was expected and it still took 9 days. They told her they were "backed up". "




celia wrote on Mar 12, 2010 7:06 AM:

" first I'm sorry for your loss and I respect whatever grieving process that needs to happen.

There is much we don't know. My father in law was cremated almost two weeks after the accident. Time can vary.

What concerns me is that people seem to be angry that a doctor was jogging: how dare he take care of his health...really is that really the issue? "




Advise Ignored wrote on Mar 11, 2010 5:41 PM:

" In the big city some cremations happen within hours of death, it all depends on the appearance/cause of death, or what the coroner says. If the deceased was under Doctors care, it is rarely held up. Un-expected death usually is the hold up, until the coroner examines. Usually, when the death happens in a SNF the process happens quickly. Mac, you seem to be an authority on this subject, are you a Doctor or in health care business?
I think this sounds like the delay was the fault of the Doctor who was jogging. "




Mac wrote on Mar 10, 2010 11:04 PM:

" Excuses? Well, my dad was cremated 6 days after he died, but then he died on Thanksgiving Day so that probably factors in. My coworker said it took 9 days for her mom to be cremated, and she was on Hospice so it's not like it was unexpected. As with anything, your mileage may vary, but a week doesn't sound too far out, really. Obviously upsetting if you are expecting it to happen sooner. "




paper pusher wrote on Mar 10, 2010 9:47 PM:

" 3 or 4 days for the mortuary to get the worksheet to the doctor - ask them how much time it is SUPPOSED to take them. The doctor being available and going over records to get the diagnosis right. Maybe a mistake or two when it gets typed up so it has to go back and forth a few times. Throw in a weekend, or a day when the doctor is not in the office. A week isn't unusual. "




Advise Ignored wrote on Mar 10, 2010 5:45 PM:

" Excuses, Excuses! "




Mac wrote on Mar 10, 2010 10:09 AM:

" It's not uncommon for cremations to take over a week for reasons having nothing to do with the doctor signing a death cert. "




Advise Ignored wrote on Mar 10, 2010 3:25 AM:

" And this is a surprise? "