Ideally, there would be a definitive answer. Unfortunately, science has not yet provided them.

Ideally there would be a protocol to follow that would protect the embalmer from this disease while facilitating the embalming process.

Ideally there would be a protocol to follow that would protect the embalmer from this disease while facilitating the embalming process.

Ideally, we would have all of the answers. Unfortunately, such is not the case. We simply do not have definitive answers to many of our questions.

Even knowledgeable people within funeral service have honest points of disagreement. Some see little risk, at least in the non-autopsied case. Some flatly refuse to touch a CJD case, autopsied or not.

Add to that the complications of OSHA obligations to protect employees and ADA requirements to provide services as a "public accommodation" and we can see that the situation becomes even more complicated.

Too many in funeral service know nothing at all about CJD. Too many have never even heard of it.

Some will attempt embalming only because that is what embalmers do. Anything less might appear cowardly, especially when the foe is unseen.

That means that too many are going to be exposed to CJD without ever having considered the long-term effects of their decision to handle or not handle a CJD case.

While we may not have definitive answers, what we do have are cautions.

What we do have are warnings.

Someday we should have more.

Someday this report will be outdated.

Until then…

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