Several funeral home owners and directors in Florida are speaking out, expressing serious concerns with the state of bodies being handled at the District 1 Medical Examiner’s Office.
Funeral homes claim medical examiner’s office mishandling bodies (WEAR)
Claims include bodies being mutilated and butchered after they leave the medical examiner’s office for autopsies.
Ricky Bailey is one of several funeral directors who sent letters to Escambia County saying it weighs heavy on his heart.
We have had cases where the bags are torn, » said Bailey, owner of Waters & Hibbert Funeral Home. « The body fluids are leaking. There have been gloves or items left with the deceased. No, the family doesn’t know that, but we know that. It is very frustrating because my families, they are part of my family, » Bailey said. « And I’m here to do everything in my power to meet the needs of my family.
The accusations include trash left inside body cavities, bodies not properly cleaned and extensive time taken to release bodies from the medical examiner’s office.
Another letter, written by the funeral director at Pensacola Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home Inc., says he believes « a Winn-Dixie butcher takes more pride and care in their work.”
“Well, obviously autopsies are very invasive procedures but our doctors and our staff take great care, » District 1 Medical Examiner’s Office Director of Operations Dan Shebler said. « And part of this profession is respect for the dead. I find that characterization is inappropriate. Several of the allegations that were made are inaccurate. »
Shebler specifically addressed the complaint about the time it took for the medical examiner’s office to release a body.
We receive over 6,000 cremation permit requests annually, » Shebler said. « Almost 7,000. A doctor reviews them to make sure the manner and cause of death are complete and accurate. We turn those around 90% of the time on the same day. Many of them within hours. »
Richard Trahan is the owner and funeral director of Trahan Family Funeral Home, which also filed a complaint.
« The major issue is to make sure the loved ones we receive are taken care of and properly handled, » Trahan said.
Shebler said the medical examiner’s office never directly received complaints but it is working to address them.
If there are specific examples, I’d like to know them from the funeral directors, » Shebler said. « None of those are cited. It’s just generalities in the letters. It’s best to do that in a private setting, and not just in letters.
Shebler said he’s invited the funeral home directors for a meeting to address the complaints.
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