Nursing Homes Under Scrutiny Over Alleged Payments for Deceased Residents
In a shocking revelation, a Belgian law intended to ensure families have the choice of undertaker for their loved ones is under scrutiny, with some care homes and hospitals seemingly violating this regulation. The accusations, collected by consumer programme WinWin from Dutch-language TV station VRT, suggest that these institutions have been accepting money from funeral companies in exchange for the corpses of deceased patients.
The deals, according to the insiders, often involve gifts such as chocolate or champagne, but also cash payments of up to €250 per corpse. The second hospital in Antwerp mentioned in these allegations is ZNA Middelheim, with the ZAS Middelheim hospital also named in the testimonies regarding the exchange of corpses for money.
The practice of working with 'fixed' undertakers and funeral directors is widespread in some parts of Belgium, according to the insiders. Under the Belgian law, families are supposed to have the free choice of funeral director, but many funeral homes operate with a 'fixed' funeral director.
Emails seen by consumer programme WinWin suggest hospital staff management may have been aware of these exchanges. Hospital representatives, however, have stated that they are 'shocked and dismayed' by the accusations and urge affected families to come forward with more information.
Investigations into the hospital were dropped earlier due to a lack of evidence. The Belgian authorities have not yet commented on the accusations made by WinWin.
Johan Dexters, the chair of the Funebra funeral association, affirms that these types of exchanges are a persistent problem in the industry in some regions. Funeral directors in Belgium do not operate with a registration that can be revoked, allowing them to get away with these types of deals with only a slap on the wrist.
As the investigation continues, it is crucial for transparency and accountability in the healthcare and funeral industries to ensure that families have the right to choose who handles their loved ones' remains.
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