You can spend time with the person in their ICU room immediately after the death. You may also ask to return after the body has been washed and medical equipment and devices have been removed. Under French regulations, the body cannot normally remain in the intensive care unit for more than ten hours. Unless specific public-health restrictions apply, you will of course be able to see the person again in the hospital mortuary.
The healthcare team will wash and prepare the person’s body. You can express wishes for this time of farewell, such as holding the person, helping to wash or dress them, reading a text or asking for a faith representative. Speak to the team, who will help make these wishes possible wherever circumstances and the cause of death allow.
In France, the hospital reports the death to the town hall of the municipality where it occurred, normally within 24 hours. The funeral director can obtain copies of the death certificate from the town hall when provided with the family record book (livret de famille). You can also obtain administrative information directly from the hospital’s civil-registration office. If you cannot or do not wish to attend in person, someone close to you may go on your behalf.
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The decisions about the funeral and what happens to the body rest with the family, while respecting any wishes the person expressed during their lifetime. After the death, the body is transferred to the hospital mortuary. Unless it is taken home or to a private funeral home, it will remain there until it is released for burial, cremation or transport abroad. Give yourself time to consider what you want and what best reflects the person’s wishes.
Hospital mortuary staff prepare the body and place it in the coffin. The funeral director then organises transport, burial or cremation. The family is normally responsible for these costs, but financial assistance may be available. A hospital social worker can advise you.
If you are considering asking the local authority to take responsibility for the funeral and body, speak to the mortuary staff or a doctor. Take time to understand the implications before deciding.
The hospital mortuary receives and cares for the bodies of people who have died and gives families time to arrange the funeral.
Family and friends can usually visit as often as they wish during opening hours. Ask about the days and times when visits are possible. The mortuary team is there to support you until the funeral. You can ask them for advice and discuss any wishes or questions. For example, you may give them clothes you have chosen and, where possible, take part in preparing the body.
The mortuary can provide a list of local funeral directors on request. It accommodates different faiths, beliefs and funeral practices. Staff can also give you contact details for faith representatives.
Funeral rites can help you accompany the person to their final resting place and pay tribute to them. Many bereaved families find comfort in these rituals. You can choose practices that reflect your religious beliefs, culture, values and family traditions.
You will arrange the funeral with the funeral director and, where relevant, representatives of your faith. Whether religious or secular, this time of remembrance is for both the person who died and those close to them. These moments can remain in your memory throughout life and form an important part of grieving. If you do not follow a religion, you can choose personal or secular rituals that serve a similar purpose. Take time to explore the possibilities.
A doctor may discuss the value of a post-mortem examination to help clarify the cause of death. A medical post-mortem will only be performed with the required consent. A refusal will be respected, unless a judicial authority orders an examination as part of a legal investigation.
The examination is performed in hospital by specialist doctors and is carried out with respect for the person’s body. The findings will be communicated to the family by the hospital or the person’s GP. It can sometimes take several months for all results to become available.