Modern embalming in Romania: some regulations and restrictions

• Author: Silviu-Dorin Schiopu
• Position: Transilvania University of Brasov
• Pages: 165-170

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşo v

Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 11 (60) No. 2 - 2018

MODERN EMBALMING IN ROMANIA: SOME

REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS

Silviu-Dorin ȘCHIOPU1

Abstract: The legal framework on embalming was updated not long ago by

the Technical and Health Rules regarding the funeral services, burial,

cremation, transport, exhumation and reburial of human corpses,

cemeteries, human crematoriums. Recently, the Infectious risk classification

methodology for people deceased with infectious diseases has provided

clarification on some situations where embalming is permitted or prohibited.

As such, this article aims to explore who can perform the embalming, as well

as the situations when the embalming is mandatory, forbidden, impossible

or optional.

Key words: corpse care, modern embalming, hospital morgue, death care

industry, funeral services.

1. Introduction

Funeral services are directed towards the deceased and their family, out of the respect

that the society expresses towards human dignity and out of solidarity towards its

members, and these include all the service s that could be brought to a deceased and to

their family after the time of death, according to the provisions of the article 21 from

Law no. 102 from 8th of July 2014 on cemeteries, human crematoriums and funeral

services.

Preparing the deceased for the funeral is part of the above-mentioned funeral services

and includes mortuary care that is directed to the deceased's body, such as the

embalming procedure. Embalming, like any other activity or action on the body of a

deceased person, is based on respect for th e human being and will be done with

restraint and care.

Embalming is a part of the thanatopraxy procedures as defined by article 16 paragraph

1 from Technical and Health Rules (approved by the Government Decision no. 741 of

12th of October 2016) which establish that thanatopraxy represents a “set of methods

and techniques which are applied to the human body after death, whereby the

sanitation, the embalming, the restorations when necessary, the reconstruction and

burial aesthetic care for the temporary preservation of the body, as well as the

restoration of the deceased’s appearance as close as possible to the previously known

1 Transilvania University of Braşov, dorinxschiopu@gmail.com, silviu-dorin.schiopu@unit bv.ro