North Carolina Funeral Law Practice Exam

How must identification be marked on a dead human body?

1. Using a label

2. With a tattoo

3. By a wrist bracelet

4. Permanently marking

The correct answer is: Permanently marking

Permanently marking identification on a deceased individual is essential to ensuring accurate identification, particularly in legal, medical, and forensic contexts. This method serves to prevent loss or misidentification, which can have significant repercussions not only for the deceased's records but also for their surviving family members and legal matters related to the estate or burial arrangements. In practice, this means utilizing a method that withstands the test of time and is clearly associated with the deceased individual. While options such as labels or wrist bracelets might be practical in certain scenarios, they are not considered permanent; they could be lost or removed over time, leading to potential confusion. Permanently marking, which often involves methods like engraving or embedding identification information in a manner that cannot easily be altered or removed, ensures that the identification remains intact and unequivocal even as decomposition occurs. This process is crucial when handling multiple bodies, such as in mass casualty incidents, and demonstrates due diligence in preserving the integrity and respect due to the deceased.