‘Ban funeral reps from hospitals’

A Manila City councilor filed an ordinance that would ban representatives of funeral parlors from staying in hospitals and clinics to prevent them from selling their services to individuals whose relatives are either dying or in critical condition.

"The ordinance would serve as a measure to protect families and individuals from the disgusting practice of some funeral parlors, who through their agents, offer their services even if hospitalized relatives are still alive," said Councilor Ruben Buenaventura.

It is a common practice of some opportunistic and unscrupulous agents of funeral parlors to loiter in and roam hospitals and other medical establishments so they can offer their funeral services to relatives of individuals in critical condition.

Under the ordinance, agents of funeral parlors are allowed to enter the hospital only when families of patients have already manifested their desire to avail of the services they offer.

"Unless and until such desire has been indicated, cadavers would not be released to any funeral agent," the councilor said.

Any person, natural or juridical, who violates the ordinance shall be meted with a penalty of P1,000 in fines or imprisonment of 15 days or both. – Cecille Suerte Felipe