Embalming a deceased Covid-19 patient in Japan

The family contacted me and hid the fact that their father died from Covid-19 because of the stigma associated with the disease at the time. They told me that they only needed a direct cremation, and they would take his cremated remains back to Canada.

A difficult situation

The family had already been in touch with the insurance company, and had received the permission to go ahead. After I got the full story, I told the distraught family that they could say goodbye to their dad by having embalming. They were never expecting to see him again, because in Japan at that time families were not permitted to view the body after death if the cause of death was Covid-19.

We went to the hospital, put on our full protective equipment and transported him back to our care centre. I was very moved when we picked up the deceased at the hospital, because the director of the hospital came down to the morgue and all of the staff gave a deep bow as we drove away. As I am the owner of the company, I decided that I would do the embalming so as not to put my staff at risk.
 

Developing suitable protocols

I had been in contact with my colleagues in Canada and the US, and I had seen how they have been able to provide for their families at the start of the pandemic. I was confident that I could provide the same amount of care here in Japan

In Japan at that time families
were not permitted to view
the body after death if the
cause of death was Covid-19

My staff were all eager to provide this service; however, they were concerned because they had elderly parents. They did not want to put them at risk if they also came down with Covid-19.

We developed a safe embalming protocol where our facility was disinfected by a special company after every Covid-19 embalming. After the embalming was completed, we provided a small visitation and funeral service for the Canadian man from the Diamond Princess.

A sad occasion

The family, as well as the doctors and nurses from the hospital who cared for him in his final days, were then able to gather safely. The hospital staff were so committed to helping these patients and it extended into a special relationship.

During the visitation at our funeral home I will never forget the doctor who wept and stroked the head of the deceased man, saying that he promised him that he would get better, only to fail in the end. Covid-19 was so new at that time, and the treatments were not as good as they are now.

The family was Buddhist, and the monks in Japan would not provide a funeral service for the deceased because of the fear of Covid-19 at that time. The family contacted their temple in Canada and their monk was able to provide a service via video link.

Our facility was disinfected
by a special company after
every Covid-19 embalming

Working with insurers

Insurance covered the usual costs for the cremation and the family looked after the additional costs. When a death occurs, some things need to be adjusted for the family, and we are able to work with them in order to follow the protocol necessary for insurance coverage.

As we work with insurance and assistance companies all the time, we were aware of their requirements, as well as the needs of the family. In the end, everyone was satisfied that everything was compassionately taken care of.

When a death occurs,
some things need to be
adjusted for the family

Conclusion

Although the pandemic is more or less over, we are still embalming people and providing services for those who die of this terrible disease. As a society we have learned to live with Covid-19 in our midst as life must go on. Within life there is death, and we have come to accept this.