In the face of Connecticut’s ongoing budget problems, the state is shifting the burden of keeping and disposing of unclaimed corpses to cities and towns. Darien First Selectman Jayme Stevenson is objecting.
“This goes beyond human decency,” Stevenson wrote in a letter to Darien’s representatives and senators, members of the state’s two legislative bodies. She asked them to try to find “a way to financially support OCME [the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner] so they can restore their critical services.”
Connecticut Coat of Arms / Connecticut Coat of Arms
“He who is transplanted still sustains,” the state coat of arms says in Latin. But for those who don’t sustain life, the state’s telling cities and towns to do the transplanting.
She included a copy of a letter (or email) from the chief medical examiner, James Gill, who said the state estimates that there are about 100 unclaimed bodies a year in the state.
Gill suggested that towns arrange with local funeral homes to work out the logistics of sending dead bodies to them and disposing of the bodies — a responsibility that the state will continue to perform until the new fiscal year begins on July 1.
Here’s Stevenson’s letter, followed by Gill’s communication:
Unclaimed Remains
Due to budget cuts and storage facility limitations, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner must make certain changes that will affect your municipality. These changes will begin on July 1, 2016.
Unclaimed decedents at scenes (e.g., homes) that are not OCME cases, will no longer be transported to the OCME. Under Connecticut General Statute §19a-270, it is the responsibility of the town or city of death to handle these arrangements.
For unclaimed decedents that are OCME cases, the city/town where the death occurred shall be notified once the medical examiner has completed the examination at the OCME. Per CGS Sec. §19a-408, the proper authorities of the town in which the body is lying has the duty “to dispose” of these remains.
We suggest that municipalities work with the local police to develop a plan to transport and store these remains as the police are usually at the scene of death. We estimate that this will involve fewer than 100 decedents per year for the entire State. The Connecticut Funeral Directors Association may be able to provide you with a list of funeral homes willing to assist with transportation and storage. There are funeral “trade services” that already have contracts with the State to provide transportation services. The Department of Administrative Services has this contract information.
James Gill, M.D.
Chief Medical Examiner
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
11 Shuttle Rd
Farmington, CT 06032
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