Mortuary Science Practice Exam

Who issues a disinterment/reinterment permit if the next of kin gives consent?

1. State Health Administrator

2. Local Health Administrator

3. Office of Vital Records

4. County Clerk

The correct answer is: Local Health Administrator

The local health administrator is typically responsible for issuing a disinterment/reinterment permit when consent is provided by the next of kin. This is due to their role in managing public health regulations and ensuring compliance with state laws regarding the reinterment of human remains. Local health administrators are well-positioned to assess the necessary documentation and verify that all legal and health-related guidelines are adhered to when a burial site is disturbed. The procedural context often requires that local entities take charge of such permits due to their proximity to the specific community, enabling them to better handle local regulations and concerns surrounding disinterment. Their authority ensures that family wishes are respected while maintaining compliance with health codes intended to protect public health and the dignity of the deceased. In contrast, other entities like the state health administrator might oversee broader regulations at the state level, but they typically do not handle individual permits. The Office of Vital Records generally deals with documentation related to births and deaths, rather than disinterment permits, and the county clerk's responsibilities usually revolve around maintaining public records rather than health-related issues. Thus, the local health administrator is the appropriate authority in this scenario.